Allocation-routing problem for home healthcare

Abstract

The healthcare system in Europe as it is known today is not sustainable. The changes in the demographics and family patterns make it difficult to sustain the needed long term for specific illnesses and age groups at conventional hospitals. The home healthcare concept is portrayed as the solution, and the commercial home healthcare sector is growing rapidly in Belgium. This study aims to give insights to hospitals on the specifications like location, vehicle routing, pathologies, and medical staff for making the strategic decision of establishing a home healthcare center. Building on the review of previous research both on location-routing problems and home healthcare in Europe, a location routing problem that is divided into two subproblems, facility-location allocation problem (FLAP) and vehicle routing problem (VRP), is defined and modeled. Analysis of the result obtained shows that the location of the home healthcare center is closely related to the vehicle routing aspects. Based on the results, it is recommended that the facilities are established in a location where the demand is closer to the center, and each medical staff should be specialized in treating a single illness. Further research with real-life data is needed to see how other specifications of the home healthcare centers could affect this strategic decision.