A multi-stage stochastic methodology for whole hospital bed planning under peak loading

We propose a multi-stage stochastic methodology to balance inpatient bed unit utilisations in an entire hospital. It minimises blocking of beds from upstream units, within given constraints on bed reallocation, while considering multiple patient types. Queuing network analysis and optimisation are used to achieve balanced targets of bed unit utilisation while building hospital staff involvement. Discrete event simulation is then used to maximise flow through the system including nonhomogeneous effects of daily and hourly peak loading, nonexponential lengths of stay, and blocking behaviour. A 400 plus bed major hospital is analysed with the methodology and results are validated against field data.