Staffing and Scheduling Problems with Random Patient Demand: Solutions Using Discrete Event Simulation

The application of discrete event simulation is provided for staffing and scheduling with random patient demand and random service time. Six staffing problems are presented including the effect of appointment duration variability on appointment scheduling order, centralized staffing vs. individual units’ staffing for patient discharge, the effect of placing the right staff in the right shift, the unit’s cross-trained staffing, and the optimal staffing of an Eye Institute.