Home healthcare routing and scheduling: operations research approaches and contemporary challenges

Home Health Care services aim to provide comprehensive care and support to patients in the comfort of their homes, ensuring a quality of service comparable to that of hospitals while also addressing additional objectives such as cost management and enhancing living conditions. Previous literature, exemplified by the paper authored by Euchi et al. (4OR 20(3):351–389, 2022), delineates the Home Healthcare Routing and Scheduling Problem (HHCRSP), presenting a taxonomy of its characteristics and constraints, along with an overview of state-of-the-art decision-making solutions. This study proposes an update to this research, highlighting the significant evolution of HHCRSP as it adapts to technological advancements and accommodates variant objectives and constraints across past, present, and future challenges. Through exhaustive literature reviews, this paper meticulously constructs a framework that delineates the intricate and diverse paths of HHCRSP’s evolution, fostering a deeper understanding of the impacts of emerging challenges such as digitization and sustainability. It offers invaluable insights for academic researchers and industry professionals, facilitating better alignment with the evolving landscape for consistently improved performance.