HOROPLAN: computer-assisted nurse scheduling using constraint-based programming.
Nurse scheduling is a difficult and time consuming task. The schedule has to determine the day to day shift assignments of each nurse for a specified period of time in a way that satisfies the given requirements as much as possible, taking into account the wishes of nurses as closely as possible. This paper presents a constraint-based, artificial intelligence approach by describing a prototype implementation developed with the Charme language and the first results of its use in the Rouen University Hospital. Horoplan implements a non-cyclical constraint-based scheduling, using some heuristics. Four levels of constraints were defined to give a maximum of flexibility: French level (e.g. number of worked hours in a year), hospital level (e.g. specific day-off), department level (e.g. specific shift) and care unit level (e.g. specific pattern for week-ends). Some constraints must always be verified and can not be overruled and some constraints can be overruled at a certain cost. Rescheduling is possible at any time specially in case of an unscheduled absence.
Darmoni
S J
SJ
Rouen University Hospital, France.
Fajner
A
A
Mahé
N
N
Leforestier
A
A
Vondracek
M
M
Stelian
O
O
Baldenweck
M
M
D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010562:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011381:Programming Languages; D012986:Software Validation