Abstract

Background and Aim: Nowadays, providing the high quality service and reducing costs, have converted health care industry into a challenging environment for the managers. One of the ways to achieve these goals given the importance of productivity and systems' efficiency, is to optimize the number of facilities. In this regard, the present study aimed at optimizing the bed number of different wards of a military hospital. Methods: This research is a study which utilizes the operations research and mathematical modeling techniques. In This matter firstly, a model assuming no interaction between various wards has been designed and then in the next step another model has been developed without this assumption. To evaluate the models the real life data of a military hospital has been used and ultimately the developed model has been coded and solved in GAMS.24.5.6 software. Results: The results of implementation of first and second models showed that annual costs of the hospital is equal to372,984,500,0 and 352,984,500,0 Rials respectively, whereas the value for the current situation is 408,408,000,0 Rials per year. Based on importance of reducing costs models have shown the proper efficiency. Conclusion: In general, using mathematical programming for capacity planning has shown high performance capability at any previous studies. It is recommended to apply the models for specialized and general hospitals to allocate the beds into their wards optimally.