Development of simulation optimization methods for solving patient referral problems in the hospital-collaboration environment

摘要: Abstract This research studied a patient referral problem among multiple cooperative hospitals for sharing imaging services’ referrals. The proposed consisted of many types patients and the uncertainty associated with number each type, patients’ arrival time, medical operation leading to difficulty in finding solutions due uncertain environment. used system simulation construct model develop optimization method, combining heuristic algorithm (patient mechanism) particle swarm (PSO) determine better way refer from one hospital (referring hospital) another (recipient receive certain services. After simulated was verified validated, three mechanisms dispatch referring appropriate recipient were proposed. Based on numerical results, findings showed that Mechanism 2, transferring shortest waiting had good performance both scenarios: allowing referrals all limiting time. Finally, this study presents conclusions some directions future research.