The demand for home healthcare continues to rise. In the light of ongoing nurse shortage and the aging population, home healthcare service providers face growing challenges in providing reliable on-site healthcare.
In collaboration with a regional health insurer, we examine the potential of innovative approaches to serve and distribute the numerous patient inquiries. At first, we assess the savings through systematic patient redistribution between home healthcare providers in the daily nurse routing. Next, the goal is to investigate how patients can be incentivized to participate in these voluntary exchanges and how providers can be compensated for potential patient losses. At a strategic level, we explore how to establish a (policy) framework that enables and regulates patient exchanges. As working time has become one of today’s most valuable resources, reducing travel times through smart patient-to-provider assignments offers significant potential to enhance efficiency. To ensure service continuity in the future and to make effective use of scarce resources, innovative solutions are essential.

By integrating real-world data, this project evaluates the practical benefits of patient exchanges. Specifically, we examine potential reductions in travel time and corresponding improvements in the utilization of scarce nursing resources, which may ultimately enable more on-site care. Furthermore, we analyze various exchange mechanisms and incentive structures for both patients and providers to identify the most effective and equitable approaches for all stakeholders involved.

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In today's dynamic business environment, companies are increasingly pressured to stand out not just in terms of profit margins but also through innovative workplace strategies. Consequently, optimizing operational processes while accommodating diverse preferences of employees and customers has become increasingly crucial.

Recognizing and addressing employee preferences, such as flexible working hours and tasks tailored to their skill level and abilities, not only enhances job satisfaction and productivity but also fosters a more harmonious work environment. Similarly, considering customer preferences, such as service within desired time windows, can significantly enhance service quality and overall satisfaction levels. Meeting these objectives requires sophisticated planning and decision-support tools.

This project explores innovative solutions to identify and integrate diverse preferences into workforce and route planning. Specifically, we will investigate the influence of incorporating employee preferences spanning i.e., task types, work areas, and equitable workload distribution, ensuring optimal resource allocation. These approaches will be explored across various sectors, including last-mile delivery and the complex field of home health care routing and scheduling.

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