A Two-Stage Stochastic Programming Model for Home Health-Care Routing and Scheduling Problem

This article explores the increasing need for home health care services (HHCS) in developed nations due to rising life expectancy and changing family structures. To this end, we introduce a sophisticated two-stage stochastic programming model designed for the HHCS. The main objective is to efficiently assign caregivers to patients and optimize their travel routes, a complex task made more challenging by factors such as the stochastic nature of patient service times and the need for caregivers to have specific skills to respond to diverse patient demands. The proposed model aims to minimize various costs, including those associated with caregivers, travel, service provision, and penalties for untimely arrivals (for early or late arrivals). Simultaneously, it seeks to maximize patient-caregiver preferences to enhance overall satisfaction and quality of care. One notable aspect of the model is its consideration of stochastic service times, providing a more resilient solution to the inherent unpredictability of HHCS. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, the model undergoes rigorous testing using real-world data obtained from an actual HHC center. The experimental results demonstrate the superior cost efficiency of the proposed model compared to traditional deterministic models, showcasing its potential to significantly improve the overall effectiveness of HHCS in terms of resource allocation, service quality, and patient satisfaction.