Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Uses Operations Research Tools to Improve Surgeon Training

  • Authors:
  • Jonathan P. Turner;Heron E. Rodriguez;Debra A. DaRosa;Mark S. Daskin;Amanda Hayman;Sanjay Mehrotra

  • Affiliations:
  • University Health Care System, Augusta, Georgia 30909;Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611;Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611;Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611;Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208

  • Venue:
  • Interfaces
  • Year:
  • 2013

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Abstract

Since the advent of work-hour limitations for surgical trainees, medical faculties have been concerned by inadequacies in two areas of resident training programs: operating room experience, which residents need to develop competence and confidence during surgery, and continuity of patient care, which engenders in residents a sense of responsibility and accountability. Previous operations research literature on resident scheduling models has discussed the development of mathematical programming models that assign residents to rotations or shifts; however, this literature has neglected the educational component. In this work, we frame the problem from an educational perspective, and we also describe the mathematical details behind several ideas and analyses in the medical literature. In addition, we present the patient assignment system, which we piloted at a large academic medical center, and discuss the relationship between the logistical and cultural challenges faced in medical training.