Health Care Operations Management
The healthcare sector is the largest and fastest-growing industry in all developed countries. Due to demographic changes, new medical treatments, and technological advancements, the demand for healthcare services is continuously increasing, while financing these services is becoming increasingly challenging. As a result, many hospitals are reaching their capacity limits.
As part of its Health Care Operations Management focus area, the Chair of Operations Management primarily addresses the management of scarce resources in healthcare. Current research topics include:
- Simultaneous optimization of operating room, ward, and intensive care unit capacities
- Management of intensive care unit capacity
- Behavioral aspects of operating room capacity management
- Scheduling of elective patients based on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) and clinical pathways
- Reduction of waiting times in emergency departments
- Optimization of goods and patient transportation
- Optimization of personnel deployment (e.g., shift planning)
These topics are being pursued in close collaboration with hospitals offering both general and maximum care in Munich and the surrounding region.