Applying Mathematical and Psychological Studies of Staff Scheduling for Holidays to a Group of Anesthesiologists

Earlier, we reviewed mathematical and psychological studies of staff scheduling for holidays. Our management case report describes innovation and applying the results. Each anesthesiologist was assigned 100 points among holidays to work. Solver in Excel found a unique integer linear solution that maximized holiday points subject to the constraint that the count of anesthesiologists needed on each holiday was satisfied. A different solution maximized points while also including the constraint that no anesthesiologist works for more than 2 holidays. The total points maximized were slightly less than without the constraint. The group chose the second option with the constraint of equality in days.