On home health care assignment and routing problem

Home health care (HHC) is an economic practice that relieves the burden on the health system and allows patients to receive comfortable and quality services. The home health care assignment and routing problem involves fulfilling the medical needs of patients who in different locations in the home environment. The constraints specific to HHC's stakeholders distinguish the problem from the classical assignment and routing problem and make it unique. In this study, in addition to the general characteristics of the home health assignment and routing problem, which is shaped by the relevant regulation, is handled. The study contributes to the literature in three main points. The first is to measure the continuity of care with the the continuity of care index which has been important in the health literature. Secondly, to allow providing transfer between the vehicles. The third is the consideration of the long-term planning horizon. A multi-objective optimization model was proposed and the effect of different scenarios and parameter changes on the solution producing capacity of the model was analyzed. In order to make strategic decisions, obtaining a solution in the long planning period is determined as the priority target. Considering the growth potential of HHC, the main purpose of this study is to produce solutions for as many patients as possible in the long planning period. When the optimization model is insufficient, different solution approaches has been tried to increase the number of patients who can produce solutions with. As a result, information that will help the decision-maker in strategic and operational decisions can be produced.