Retia Medical’s Post

Is it possible for radiotherapy departments to reduce patients waiting time while reducing the risk of working overtime for staff? Yes, as we show in our latest article that uses operations research (OR) to improve radiotherapy processes.   Our method uses a multi-objective genetic algorithm to find the optimal sequence of treatment preparation tasks, taking into account the expected average treatment preparation time (Fmean) and the risk of working overtime. The figure below shows the trade-off curve as it evolves during the progress of the algorithm. We tested our method in various settings for a one-stop shop for palliative radiotherapy at Erasmus MC, where multiple patients are seen, scanned and treated within one day.   The results were impressive: we were able reduce the expected average preparation time by 37%, leading to less waiting time, without increasing the risk of working overtime. We also explored the trade-offs between different factors, such as working shift length, number of patients treated per day, and staff composition.   The research article is accompanied by an editorial about the use of Operations Research to relief the pressure on radiotherapy departments.   Curious? Read our papers below.   This work was a fruitful collaboration between Erasmus MC and Tilburg University. Many thanks to Luuk Smolenaers, Manouk van Acht, Mischa Hoogeman,  Marleen Balvert and Steven Petit https://lnkd.in/eANVW-fx https://lnkd.in/eKY773KY #radiotherapy #operationsresearch #scheduling #machinelearning #geneticalgorithm

The clinical lab lobby seems to be working overtime on LDTs. Buried in a report on proposed 2025 FDA funding is a bit about the House Committee on Appropriations directing the FDA to suspend its final rule regulating LDTs. Not sure how that wording will play out, although the Appropriations Committee is powerful. Today's Clinical Lab G2 Intelligence #FDA #clinicallab HT: MedTech Dive

Medical claims data is famous for its protective value, but its utility as a Medicare Supplement sales and business growth enabler is a too-well-kept secret. Not anymore. Join this can’t-miss #Medicarians session to learn how carriers are using Medical Data to transform sales and underwriting workflows and point-of-sale decisioning. They’ll share its success in uncovering previously undetected macro conditions, quickly converting applicants into customers, issuing more policies, unburdening underwriting departments of overtime, and directing valuable resources to other business initiatives. #medsupp #medicaldata

If you're suffering from headaches, it's likely triggered from tension stemming from the jaw. When you clamp your teeth together, it's the action of two muscles: the one you see at the angle of your jawbone, and one that is hiding around your temples at your hairline. That's right, there's a muscle most people don't even realise is working overtime and triggering these headaches. If you've lived with this type of low-grade ashiness for years, you may even be so used to it that you don't realize you have a headache. Go ahead and place your fingertips at the sides of your head right above your ears. Now squeeze your teeth together. Do you feel a muscle pop out? That's your overworked jaw clenching muscle! In my office, I take advantage of multiple modalities to relax this muscle including occlusal guards, physical therapy, and botox therapy. Ask your dentist if they're able to help you with these, you'll be amazed at how good you feel once that area is no longer holding tension!

Health care demand goes up, but the staff and other resources remain the same. How can #operationsresearch and patient #scheduling improve efficient use of resources while improving patient comfort and staff working hours?   Together with Nienke Hoffmans-Holtzer and Steven Petit from Erasmus MC, and with Luuk Smolenaers from Tisem/Tilburg University, we developed a scheduling algorithm for scheduling palliative treatment at Erasmus MC's #radiationoncology department. The algorithm minimizes the total treatment time for each patient as well as the risk of working overtime for staff. It also allows the department to gain insights in the effects of changing the clinic's opening hours and hiring additional staff. Even though the optimization problem is complex, our algorithm is able to efficiently generate several schedules that the department can choose from.   Curious? Read our paper & editorial: https://lnkd.in/eANVW-fx https://lnkd.in/eKY773KY

Throughout the #COVID19pandemic, #caredelivery was exceedingly difficult for hospital healthcare teams. This analysis by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) presents a high-level look at the available pan-Canadian data on hospital staffing – including sick time, overtime and agency use – and potential impacts on #patientharm in #acutecare hospitals. https://lnkd.in/g2ZHxQzh

Firstly, it can significantly reduce the time healthcare professionals spend identifying and managing surgical instruments, leading to more efficient use of operating rooms and potentially reducing overtime labor costs. By minimizing errors in instrument handling, SID 3.0 can help avoid costly delays and potential patient complications, thereby saving on potential litigation and remediation expenses. #SurgicalTrayEfficiency #HealthcareSolutions #LayerJotTechnology #SterileProcessing #InstrumentCatalog #MedicalInnovation

Midweek tip to maintain our joint health during Positive Ageing Week 2024: Let's focus on avoiding neck pain as we age. Reading in bed, a common habit, can overtime, strain the muscles and joints of the cervical spine, causing undue pain and discomfort. To prevent this, consider sitting in a supportive chair or using a book stand for a more ergonomic posture. If you're interested in injury prevention, connect with me here or email info@amo-workplace-health-solutions.com to help your people stay pain-free and feel fabulous with age. #PositiveAgeingWeek #NeckPain #HealthTips #agewell #avoidposturaloverload

It has been a big week! Even my coffee machine is working overtime to provide my foamy latte.. In no particular order, a few highlights; 🗂📊📈 POC South East group.. audit data has arrived! We are at 20/22 Acute Trusts #POCT service and resource data..with the other 2 to hopefully come next week. Data like this ticks my Scientist box - questions to answer, lessons to learn and comparisons to be made. All with the aim of helping each service with evidence for business cases. 📚📢💡 POC national community of practice, chaired by David Wells. The first meeting of this kind.. a growing piece of work lead by the national team. I am looking forward to supporting this venture and I hope widening membership to support POC service growth. 🖱💻✅️ -Presentation prep work.. Really looking forward to speaking at the Clinisys conference in a few weeks time, thanks to Matthew Fouracre for asking me. POCT integration challenges are plentiful, there has been some progress but we have a way to go! 🥼🧪👍 -Qpoint Annual Management Review.. our EQA Scheme has grown significantly in the last 3 years. We work continuously on improving experience for our participants and have been developing our next scheme ready for launch. The team are so passionate and knowledgeable, it is a pleasure to work with them. Maintaining every aspect of quality management system is a big pressure and the annual review a time to reflect and strategise. 📃📃📃 -Service on a page.. I have been preparing a report on all our #HealthcareScience services at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust for our Execs. There are areas of excellence in all of them and areas of challenge to tease out and plan improvement. A real learning curve for me. (and no.. its not 1 page! it's closer to 11!!..) 💡💡💡 -I had a get to know you chat with our BSPS board chair, John Pattulo. Great to share with John what our POCT service is all about, the work we do with Virtual wards and Rapid respiratory. I feel so grateful to work in a network that values #POCT in the way we do. This weekend.. PTA summer fair including face painting, BBQ, cake stall and lots of happy kids. Refreshing to get outside even if rain coat is likely needed! #IValueLabStaff #POCT #Pathology #HealthcareScience

👉With 94% of fit notes now being used to sign people off work, we explore the government’s plans to review fit notes and look at what it really takes to put in place reasonable adjustments that actually reduce sickness absence. #managerupskilling #employeewellbeing #occupationalhealth #PAMOH #hrwebinar #ohwebinar #PAMOH #wellbeingframework #sicknotes #reasonableadjustements #welfareplan