This report demonstrates the power and usefulness of mathematical optimization as a decision support tool in the medical services industry by presenting an application to dialysis service planning. Models to predict the number of dialysis beds in a given region are usually population-based. Dialysis planners and providers have found a need to accommodate sparsely populated regions by making some allowance for patient travel times. A formal approach to incorporating travel times into dialysis planning, based on the formulation and solution of a mixed-integer programming model, is presented. The development of a method for dialysis planning serves as a platform to demonstrate the use of integer programming to support decision making. Major modeling principles are presented; output interpretation and sensitivity analysis are illustrated by examples; and computational requirements are discussed.

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mixedinteger programming model medical services industry sensitivity analysis travel times method mathematical optimization decision support tool dialysis service planning models output interpretation

M, Eben-Chaime J S, Pliskin,.Incorporating patient travel times in decisions about size and location of dialysis facilities.. 12 (1),44-51.

M, Eben-Chaime J S, Pliskin,"Incorporating patient travel times in decisions about size and location of dialysis facilities." 12

M, Eben-Chaime J S, Pliskin,"Incorporating patient travel times in decisions about size and location of dialysis facilities."