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PubMed · 7662877

HOROPLAN: computer-assisted nurse scheduling using constraint-based programming.

S J Darmoni·A Fajner·N Mahé·A Leforestier·M Vondracek·O Stelian·M Baldenweck
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Abstract

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.

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FranceHumansNursing Administration ResearchNursing Staff, HospitalPersonnel Staffing and Scheduling Information SystemsProgramming LanguagesSoftware ValidationJournal Article

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S J Darmoni, A Fajner, N Mahé, A Leforestier, M Vondracek, O Stelian, M Baldenweck. 1995. HOROPLAN: computer-assisted nurse scheduling using constraint-based programming.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7662877/

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