Mathematical model for maximizing operating rooms utilization

The operating theater is one of the most critical and expensive hospital resources. Indeed a high percentage of the hospital admissions are due to surgical interventions. Operating room planning and scheduling is the best tool to help operating theater managers to administrate this sector. This paper proposes a mathematical model to design a surgery schedule in an operating theater considering an “open scheduling” strategy. Operating rooms are assumed to be multi functional. The main objective of the proposed model is to maximize operating rooms utilization and to minimize idle time between planned surgeries. The proposed model takes into account surgeon's availability.