Out of hours workload management: Bayesian inference for decision support in secondary care

Objective: In this paper, we aim to evaluate the use of electronic technologies in Out of Hours (OoH) task-management for assisting the design of effective support systems in health care; targeting local facilities, wards or specific working groups. In addition, we seek to draw and validate conclusi...

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Main Authors: Pérez López, Iker, Brown, Michael, Pinchin, James, Martindale, Sarah, Sharples, Sarah, Shaw, Dominick E., Blakey, John
Format: Article
Published: Elsevier 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37274/
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author Pérez López, Iker
Brown, Michael
Pinchin, James
Martindale, Sarah
Sharples, Sarah
Shaw, Dominick E.
Blakey, John
author_facet Pérez López, Iker
Brown, Michael
Pinchin, James
Martindale, Sarah
Sharples, Sarah
Shaw, Dominick E.
Blakey, John
author_sort Pérez López, Iker
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Objective: In this paper, we aim to evaluate the use of electronic technologies in Out of Hours (OoH) task-management for assisting the design of effective support systems in health care; targeting local facilities, wards or specific working groups. In addition, we seek to draw and validate conclusions with relevance to a frequently revised service, subject to increasing pressures. Methods and Material: We have analysed 4 years of digitised demand-data extracted from a recently deployed electronic task-management system, within the Hospital at Night setting in two jointly coordinated hospitals in the United Kingdom. The methodology employed relies on Bayesian inference methods and parameter-driven state-space models for multivariate series of count data. Results: Main results support claims relating to (i) the importance of data-driven staffing alternatives and (ii) demand forecasts serving as a basis to intelligent scheduling within working groups. We have displayed a split in workload patterns across groups of medical and surgical specialities, and sustained assertions regarding staff behaviour and work-need changes according to shifts or days of the week. Also, we have provided evidence regarding the relevance of day-to-day planning and prioritisation. Conclusions: The work exhibits potential contributions of electronic tasking alternatives for the purpose of data-driven support systems design; for scheduling, prioritisation and management of care delivery. Electronic tasking technologies provide means to design intelligent systems specific to a ward, speciality or task-type; hence, the paper emphasizes the importance of replacing traditional pager-based approaches to management for modern alternatives.
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spelling nottingham-372742020-05-04T18:08:33Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37274/ Out of hours workload management: Bayesian inference for decision support in secondary care Pérez López, Iker Brown, Michael Pinchin, James Martindale, Sarah Sharples, Sarah Shaw, Dominick E. Blakey, John Objective: In this paper, we aim to evaluate the use of electronic technologies in Out of Hours (OoH) task-management for assisting the design of effective support systems in health care; targeting local facilities, wards or specific working groups. In addition, we seek to draw and validate conclusions with relevance to a frequently revised service, subject to increasing pressures. Methods and Material: We have analysed 4 years of digitised demand-data extracted from a recently deployed electronic task-management system, within the Hospital at Night setting in two jointly coordinated hospitals in the United Kingdom. The methodology employed relies on Bayesian inference methods and parameter-driven state-space models for multivariate series of count data. Results: Main results support claims relating to (i) the importance of data-driven staffing alternatives and (ii) demand forecasts serving as a basis to intelligent scheduling within working groups. We have displayed a split in workload patterns across groups of medical and surgical specialities, and sustained assertions regarding staff behaviour and work-need changes according to shifts or days of the week. Also, we have provided evidence regarding the relevance of day-to-day planning and prioritisation. Conclusions: The work exhibits potential contributions of electronic tasking alternatives for the purpose of data-driven support systems design; for scheduling, prioritisation and management of care delivery. Electronic tasking technologies provide means to design intelligent systems specific to a ward, speciality or task-type; hence, the paper emphasizes the importance of replacing traditional pager-based approaches to management for modern alternatives. Elsevier 2016-10-01 Article PeerReviewed Pérez López, Iker, Brown, Michael, Pinchin, James, Martindale, Sarah, Sharples, Sarah, Shaw, Dominick E. and Blakey, John (2016) Out of hours workload management: Bayesian inference for decision support in secondary care. Artificial Intelligence in Medicine . ISSN 1873-2860 Healthcare Management Multivariate Time Series Count Data Out of Hours Graphical Model http://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S0933365716301555 doi:10.1016/j.artmed.2016.09.005 doi:10.1016/j.artmed.2016.09.005
spellingShingle Healthcare Management
Multivariate Time Series
Count Data
Out of Hours
Graphical Model
Pérez López, Iker
Brown, Michael
Pinchin, James
Martindale, Sarah
Sharples, Sarah
Shaw, Dominick E.
Blakey, John
Out of hours workload management: Bayesian inference for decision support in secondary care
title Out of hours workload management: Bayesian inference for decision support in secondary care
title_full Out of hours workload management: Bayesian inference for decision support in secondary care
title_fullStr Out of hours workload management: Bayesian inference for decision support in secondary care
title_full_unstemmed Out of hours workload management: Bayesian inference for decision support in secondary care
title_short Out of hours workload management: Bayesian inference for decision support in secondary care
title_sort out of hours workload management: bayesian inference for decision support in secondary care
topic Healthcare Management
Multivariate Time Series
Count Data
Out of Hours
Graphical Model
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37274/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37274/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/37274/