A new scheduling tool could help hospitals reduce surgical wait times

Article excerpt

Researchers at Concordia University have created an AI-powered scheduling tool designed to help hospitals optimize operating room usage, reduce surgical wait times, and handle unexpected emergencies more effectively. The model determines which operating rooms should open daily, when each surgery should begin, and which cases might need postponement, all within a single integrated framework. By using significantly fewer variables than existing approaches, the new tool offers hospitals a more streamlined way to manage one of their most critical and costly resources. The research addresses a persistent challenge in healthcare: surgical backlogs that can affect patient outcomes and hospital efficiency.