Staff Assignment Research Articles

Diagnosis and Management System of Healthcare Resources for Pulmonary Cardio-vascular Diseases Based on Supervised Machine Learning

Introduction: The detection and management of diseases have always been critical and challenging tasks for healthcare professionals. This necessitates expensive human and material resources, resulting in prolonged treatment processes. In medicine, misdiagnosis and mismanagement can significantly contribute to mistreatment and resource loss. However, machine learning (ML) techniques have demonstrated the potential to surpass standard patient treatment procedures, aiding healthcare professionals in better disease management. Methods: In this project, the focus is on smart auscultation systems and resource management, employing Random Forest Regression (RFR). This system collects patients' physiological values (specifically, photoplethysmography techniques: PPG) as input and provides disease detection, treatment protocols, and staff assignments with greater precision. The aim is to enable early disease detection and shorten both staff and disease treatment durations. Result: Additionally, this system allows for a general diagnosis of the patient's condition, swiftly transitioning to a specific one if the initial auscultation detects a suspicious disease. Conclusion: Compared to the conventional system, it offers quicker diagnoses and satisfactory real-time patient sorting.

Midwives’ experiences regarding recordkeeping during intrapartum care in Limpopo Province healthcare facilities

Background: South Africa has experienced an increase in litigations because of poor recordkeeping. The quality of maternal healthcare necessitates quality recordkeeping. All midwives’ interventions should be documented in the maternity case record as an instrument to highlight the quality of intrapartum care offered.Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine and describe the experiences of midwives regarding recordkeeping during intrapartum care in Limpopo province and to make recommendations to improve recordkeeping.Method: A qualitative, explorative and descriptive design was adopted. Midwives were selected purposively to participate in focus group discussions. Data were thematically analysed with the help of the independent transcriptionist and coder.Results: The findings revealed the themes: perceptions of midwives regarding recordkeeping and the challenges and enablers that influence recordkeeping during intrapartum care.Conclusion: Quality recordkeeping requires timely, detailed, comprehensive and accurate recording. The study recommended the availability of updated guidelines, in-service training, monitoring and evaluation of recordkeeping, peer review, record auditing, proper time management among midwives and appointment of staff in line with the staffing needs of the unit to enhance recordkeeping.Contribution: Quality recordkeeping has a positive impact on the provision of quality healthcare to mothers during intrapartum care and reduces litigations related to maternity cases.

Impact of changes in anaesthesia staff assignments on billing compliance, financial margins, and costs of anaesthesia services: development and application of a margin-cost estimation tool

BackgroundThe US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provide guidelines for the coverage of anaesthesia residents and certified registered nurse anaesthetists (CRNAs) by anaesthesiologists. We tested the hypothesis that changes in the anaesthesia staffing model increase billing compliance. MethodsWe analysed 13 926 anaesthesia cases performed between September 2019 and November 2019 (baseline), and between September 2020 and November 2020 (after change in staff model) at a US academic medical centre using an estimation tool. The intervention was assignment of additional 12-h weekday CRNAs plus an additional anaesthesiologist who covered weekdays after 17:00, weekends, and holidays. The proportion of cases with billing compliant coverage (covered either by solo anaesthesiologist or anaesthesiologist covering two or fewer residents or four or fewer CRNAs) was analysed using logistic and segmented regression analyses. ResultsThe change in staff model was associated with a decrease in non-optimal anaesthesia staff assignments from 4.2% to 1.2% of anaesthesia cases (adjusted odds ratio 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20–0.32; P<0.001) and an increase in billable anaesthesia units of 0.6 per anaesthesia case (95% CI 0.4–0.8; P<0.001). An increased revenue margin associated with optimal staffing levels would only be achieved with salary levels at the 25th percentile of relevant benchmark compensation levels. Total staff overtime for all anaesthesia providers decreased (adjusted absolute difference −4.1 total overtime hours per day; 95% CI −7.0 to −1.3; P=0.004). ConclusionsImplementation of a change in anaesthesia staffing model was associated with improved billing compliance, higher billable anaesthesia units, and reduced overtime. The effects of the anaesthesia staff model on revenue and financial margin can be determined using our web-based margin-cost estimation tool.

Project scheduling and staff assignment of selected manufacturing firms in Osun state, Nigeria

Project scheduling and staff assignment of selected manufacturing firms in Osun state, Nigeria

Menganalisis Pengelolaan Manajemen Tenaga Pendidik dan Kependidikan: Strategi, Faktor Penghambat, dan Solusi Pada Pondok Pesantren Terpadu Raudhatul Jannah

Educational staff management is the process of planning, organizing, mobilizing, and controlling teachers and all components within an educational institution to achieve objectives effectively and efficiently. This article uses a descriptive and qualitative approach by collecting primary and secondary data through interviews, observations, and documentation. The main issues examined in this research are considerations in the placement and assignment of educational staff, as well as the impact of financial conditions on the management of educational staff. The purpose of this research is to find solutions to existing problems in the management of educational staff so that these issues can be addressed. The results of the study show that in the placement and assignment of educational staff, factors that need to be considered include educational background, teaching experience, competence, and the needs of the institution. Additionally, financial conditions significantly influence the management of educational staff, including the provision of facilities, professional development, and teacher welfare. To address these problems, strategic efforts are needed, such as thorough planning of educational staff needs, the development of a transparent evaluation and promotion system, and the adequate allocation of budgets for teacher welfare and professional development. Thus, the management of educational staff can run more effectively and efficiently, allowing educational goals to be optimally achieved.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses' Perceptions and Experiences of Inpatient Mental Health Care Safety Culture in Saudi Arabia.

Although patient safety culture is gaining attention globally, more studies are needed to investigate its relevance to the nursing care of mental health (MH) patients. This study aimed to illustrate the perceptions and experiences of nurses who work in inpatient mental health care (IMHC) concerning the patient safety practices that are employed to avert safety hazards encountered during the provision of care in IMHC settings. Eighteen postgraduate students working as MH nurses in nonprofit hospitals comprised the study sample. The participants had a minimum of 2 years' nursing experience in IMHC settings. Each participant was interviewed individually using a guided interview technique. The inductive data underwent thematic analysis. Patient protection and a safety perspective were the overarching themes that emerged from the data. Three principal themes and 9 subthemes were illuminated: (a) patient care safety knowledge and background, (b) improving MH care, and (c) development of MH nursing care. The findings of this investigation may assist in providing guidance for the further research into and development of a patient safety culture appropriate for IMHC nursing practice, including increased structured educational experiences, judicious risk assessment, assignment of staff to include a mixture of skills and experience levels during assignments, use of standardized handoff procedures, engagement with multidisciplinary care providers, blame-free reflective information sharing and mentoring, and attention to the built environment with consideration of patient and staff safety needs.

Restructuring of human resource development in IIT libraries of North India in new digital era

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the restructuring of human resources development processes in Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) libraries in North India, emphasizing the essential information and communications technology (ICT) skills for both recruits and existing staff. Design/methodology/approach The study used a survey research design, with two different sets of structured questionnaires used to collect data. The first set, which was distributed to all heads of seven IIT libraries in North India, received a 100% response rate. Simultaneously, the second set was distributed to library users, yielding a 92% response rate (680 responses out of 700 distributed). The collected data were analyzed and tabulated, with suitable interpretations. Findings The findings of the study reveal that all examined libraries have implemented skill development programs. Moreover, advanced ICT skills are considered essential for staff appointments, and specific institutes (IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Jodhpur and IIT Ropar) took the initiative to provide ICT training to their employees. Trained employees exhibited enhanced performance, attributed to advanced ICT knowledge. The study suggests restructuring selection criteria and introducing structured ICT training programs for library staff, ensuring a more adept workforce for current demands. Research limitations/implications The study can increase the impact globally on human resource development by incorporating soft skills, job satisfaction and leadership development while exploring research opportunities through cross-institutional comparisons and the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality. Originality/value This study collected primary data from IIT libraries in North India using self-designed questionnaires. The findings provide useful insights into how libraries might restructure human resource development in the digital age.

The Multi-Skilled Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem: A Systematic Review and an Exploration of Future Landscapes

Abstract The Multi-skilled Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem (MS-RCPSP) is a complex and multi-faceted problem that involves scheduling activities whilst considering various resource constraints. These constraints include limited availability of workers, equipment, and materials, with each activity requiring a minimal set of skills to be executed. Furthermore, for a better resemblance to reality, workers/machines are assumed to be multi-skilled/multi-purpose posing another dimension of complexity to the problem. The objective is to minimize project duration, cost, or other relevant criteria while accounting for the inherent resources flexibility. This paper provides a systematic review of the literature pertaining to MS-RCPSP, and an in-depth analysis of 171 papers published between 2000 and 2021 inclusive. The conducted bibliometric analysis identifies the top contributing authors, most influential papers, existing research tendencies, and thematic research topics within the field. In addition, this review highlights different aspects of the MS-RCPSP, spanning the significance of performance measures, solution approaches, application areas, and the incorporation of time constraints. While project completion time, cost, and tardiness are common performance indicators, other measures such as multi-skilled staff assignment and schedule robustness are also deemed important. Although various methods have been employed to solve the MS-RCPSP including exact and approximate approaches, the selection of the most-suited approach depends on the problem’s scale, complexity, and constraints, necessitating careful consideration of each method’s strengths and weaknesses. Interestingly, several studies have jointly addressed resource and time constraints in the context of MS-RCPSP, often considering tardiness, and have proposed different algorithms, models, and metaheuristics to tackle these challenges. This paper clearly highlights research gaps and promising avenues for future research. This work provides valuable insights for project managers to effectively schedule tasks in the presence of multiple flexible resources.

Factors related to changes in severity among adult and older adult patients at an internal medicine department clinic: an embedded mixed-method study

The changes in aging plus the pathology of diseases can influence the changes in severity levels. This study aimed to examine the changes in levels of severity in patients while waiting to see a doctor. The study was conducted at an outpatient clinic in northeastern Thailand with a total of 421 patients who were assessed twice for levels of severity using the Emergency Severity Index. The 38 triage nurses screened patients, and 18 were interviewed when severity level changes were observed. Data were collected April 1–30, 2021. Quantitative data were analyzed by Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression. Qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis. Most patients were female, between 18 and 59 years old. Most patients did not change their level of severity. However, increasing levels of severity were found in older adults. Factors related to the changes in severity levels were age group, chronic disease, chief complaint, educational level, the duration of travel to the outpatient clinic, type of vehicle, aging process and comorbidity, pathology of diseases, reassessment interval, nurse's experience, bypassing the patient triage process, patient's self-preparation, management of triage nurses, and assignment of direct healthcare staff until the end of the treatment. Increased severity was more frequently found in older adults, so closely monitored during waiting times at a clinic is needed. Setting rescreening as a policy and having sensitive screening guidelines and tools specific to older adults would contribute to early detection and immediate treatment of deteriorating symptoms and illness to help reduce complications and morbidity.Trial registration: https://osf.io/fp3j2.

Improving the Welfare of Poor Families through theFamily Hope Program

In Indonesia, the problem of poverty remains a significant concern regarding the government's efforts to improve society's social welfare. Poverty and unemployment are considered significant challenges that must be overcome immediately. The Family hope program(PKH) is one of the government's initiatives to reduce poverty and promote social protection. Even though it can be seen that the Family hope programhas run as expected, it is open to obstacles/things that are not by this program. The problem relatedto PKH in Ngegedhawe Village is regarding the validity of PKH participant eligibility data, resulting in errors in the use offunds given to poor households for things not recommended in the Family hope program. This research aims to describe and analyze how the Family hope programpolicy is implemented and to describe and analyze the supporting and inhibiting factors in the process of implementing the Family hope programpolicy in order to improve the welfare of poor and vulnerable families based on the Minister of Social Affairs Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 10 of 2017 concerning the Family Program Hope. This research method is descriptive qualitative, focusing on communication indicators, resources, disposition, and bureaucratic structure. The results of this research show that the Family hope programin Ngegedhawe Village, Aesesa District, Nagekeo Regency is seen from the communication variable, there is socialization and training for Beneficiary Families, in theresource variable, thereare many parties involved, very minimal human resources, there is staff appointment using which has been determined by the local government in the disposition variable as well as, there is a precise distribution of responsibility and coordination among work units based on the main tasks and functions of each in the bureaucratic structure variable

Patients' Experiences of a Precision Medicine Clinic.

The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of patients' experiences using a precision medicine (PM) clinic that conducts pharmacogenomics-based (PGx) testing for adverse drug reactions. The study aimed to identify the features of the clinic valued most by patients and areas for improvement. A paper survey was used to collect data. Survey questions focused on patients' perceptions of the PM testing and the overall clinic experience. Sixty-seven patients completed the survey. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS and frequencies were reported. Open-ended responses were coded and organized thematically. Patients reported that the clinic services increased confidence in their medication usage. Feeling respected by staff, receiving education, and quick appointments were highly valued by patients. Suggested areas for improvement included better communication from the clinic to patients, expansion of clinic services, and education for other healthcare providers. The findings demonstrate that patient experience goes beyond the clinical care provided. Current and potential future providers of PM should invest the time and energy to configure their care delivery system to enhance the patient experience.

Machine learning and text mining based real-time semi-autonomous staff assignment system

The growing demand for information systems has significantly increased the workload of consulting and software development firms, requiring them to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Usually, these firms rely on a shared pool of staff to carry out multiple projects that require different skills and expertise. However, since the number of employees is limited, the assignment of staff to projects should be carefully decided to increase the efficiency in job-sharing. Therefore, assigning tasks to the most appropriate personnel is one of the challenges of multiproject management. Assigning a staff to the project by team leaders or researchers is a very demanding process. For this reason, researchers are working on automatic assignment, but most of these studies are done using historical data. It is of great importance for companies that personnel assignment systems work with real-time data. However, a model designed with historical data has the risk of getting unsuccessful results in real-time data. In this study, unlike the literature, a machine learning-based decision support system that works with real-time data is proposed. The proposed system analyses the description of newly requested tasks using textmining and machine-learning approaches and then, predicts the optimal available staff that meets the needs of the project task. Moreover, personnel qualifications are iteratively updated after each completed task, ensuring up-to-date information on staff capabilities. In addition, because our system was developed as a microservice architecture, it can be easily integrated into companies? existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) or portal systems. In a real-world implementation at Detaysoft, the system demonstrated high assignment accuracy, achieving up to 80% accuracy in matching tasks with appropriate personnel.

Exploring Perceptions and Experiences about Maternal Health Services: A Community-Level Initiative in Jampur

The aim of the study is to scrutinize the availability and quality of maternal healthcare services by reconnoitering the perceptions and experiences about health facilities, encountered by women residing in tehsil Jampur. The current investigation employed qualitative methodology and obtained data from a sample of 28 participants including both health services seekers and health services providers, by using purposive sampling. The data was gathered through comprehensive interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). The researcher used deductive thematic analysis methodology to analyze the data. To enhance the validity of information gathered through research, perceptions of both health service-providers as well as health service-seekers was taken encountered. The research emphasizes the significance of addressing unprofessional behavior, transportation deficiencies, insufficient substructure, and erratic working schedules to improve health outcomes. Additionally, service quality evaluation at facility centers is important due to various deficiencies observed at healthcare center. The challenges include limited availability of medicine, limited operating hours of medical services, inadequate transportation options to remote healthcare facilities, and a shortage of female healthcare providers at community level, influenced by cultural norms surrounding gender subtleties. The administration of the health department is adversely affected by the repetitive vacillations in government and its systematic framework. The health department encounters instability due to the diverse strategies, programs, and staff appointments executed by successive prime ministers. Study suggest dire need of sorting out these issues to ensure native’s trust on available health facilities and to improve overall health upshots.

Dual mode scheduling in volunteer management

Nonprofit organizations have adopted online scheduling platforms that give autonomy to volunteers in the scheduling process. However, this strategy can create imbalances in task coverage, often requiring staff to fill the gaps. The aim of this study is to develop scheduling strategies to create a balanced schedule that effectively combines workforce types (paid staff and volunteers) while keeping volunteers engaged. This is achieved by accounting for volunteers’ responses to changes in scheduling options. We develop an optimization model that recognizes volunteers’ scheduling responses and utilizes these responses to design policies aimed at achieving a balanced coverage across time slots. This involves reducing over-covered and under-covered time slots over the planning horizon. By understanding the preferences of volunteers, organizations can modify their current policies to better match supply with demand keeping their volunteers engaged. We provide an implementable scheduling strategy combining staff assignment and volunteers’ autonomy in scheduling choices. Case study results show an improvement compared to current scheduling policies. Volunteers’ satisfaction increases, resulting in a long-term impact on the organizations and the communities they serve.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Recruitment Process in Public Organizations: A Study of Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command

The importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the recruitment process cannot be underestimated. That explains why organizational human resources managers, the Nigeria Police Force inclusive, have integrated it into the all-important exercise. Therefore, this study examined the effect of application of ICT on recruitment process in the public sector organizations with particular reference to the Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command. The study was anchored on Technological Determinism theory espoused by Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929). The study adopted descriptive survey design with a sample size of 400. Data were generated through structured questionnaire designed in 5 Likert scale. Chi-square inferential statistics were used to test the formulated hypotheses. The study revealed among others – that the use of online recruitment platform has significantly facilitated teeming qualified citizens’ access to job openings in the Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command; that the use of online recruitment portal has significantly enhanced appointment of competent staff in the Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command. The implication of the findings is that the adoption of ICT without human manipulations is key to institutionalization of meritocracy in the exercise. The study recommended as follows among others – that the Nigeria Police Force should ensure sustenance of the use of ICT in the recruitment process so as to attract qualified candidates to the security outfit; that the use of ICT should be given free hand during the recruitment exercise in order to facilitate emergence of most competent and skillful candidates.

The rights and roles of parents on school governing bodies in South Africa

The South African Schools Act of 1996 mandates the establishment of school governing bodies (SGBs) comprising parents, educators and non-educator members of staff. Since parents form the majority on SGBs they have been placed in a powerful position and are able to influence the school budget, language policy, discipline and the appointment and promotion of teaching and administrative staff. In addition, the new structure of school governance provides the opportunity to establish a new relationship between the state and parents, set a new direction for education, and provide a learning space where the critical skills of civic capacity might be extended. This paper examines the extent to which this has been achieved. Data was obtained by means of a questionnaire completed by parents and teachers, followed by in-depth interviews with selected principals and school governing body members. Findings suggest that problems still exist around issues of marginalisation of black parents in racially mixed schools, levels of education of parent governors, poverty and lack of resources in rural communities and a lack of understanding between governance and management of schools. Ways in which the rights and roles of parents in school governance can be improved are included in the paper.

Prevailing Government Maternal Health Care System and Challenges Faced by Health Professionals: A Case study in Tehsil Jampur

This research aims to investigate maternal healthcare facilities and the challenges faced by the health professionals in tehsil Jampur. The present study utilized a qualitative approach and collected data from 23 participants through purposive sampling. The population of Tehsil Jampur in the Punjab province of Pakistan predominantly resides in rural areas. The data was collected via in-depth interviews and analyzed using a straightforward thematic analysis methodology. Services provided at primary healthcare units endeavor to met service-provision standards by arranging, LHVs, LHWs, LHS, CMWs, transportation, nutrition etc. but it requires to highlighting the importance of addressing staff absenteeism, inadequate infrastructure, and inconsistent working hours to improve health outcomes. It also reveals that due to multiple deficiencies, the assessment of service quality at facility centers is of utmost importance. The challenges encompass insufficient medicine accessibility, restricted service hours, inconvenient transportation to remote medical facilities, male exclusion as partaker of health program, traditional practices including reliance on TBAs and a scarcity of female healthcare providers influenced by cultural norms pertaining to gender dynamics. The health sector’s governance is adversely affected by the frequent fluctuations in government and its system. The health department experiences instability due to the varying strategies, programs, and staff appointments introduced by successive prime ministers.

Optimizing Healthcare Delivery: A Model for Staffing, Patient Assignment, and Resource Allocation

The healthcare industry has recently faced the issues of enhancing patient care, streamlining healthcare operations, and offering high-quality services at reasonable costs. These crucial issues include general healthcare administration, resource allocation, staffing, patient care priorities, and effective scheduling. Therefore, efficient staff scheduling, resource allocation, and patient assignments are required to address these challenges. To address these challenges, in this paper, we developed a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model employing the Gurobi optimization solver. The model includes staff assignments, patient assignments, resource allocations, and overtime hours to minimize healthcare expenditures and enhance patient care. We experimented with the robustness and flexibility of our model by implementing two distinct scenarios, each resulting in two unique optimal solutions. The first experimental procedure yielded an optimal solution with an objective value of 844.0, with an exact match between the best-bound score and the objective value, indicating a 0.0% solution gap. Similarly, the second one produced an optimal solution with an objective value of 539.0. The perfect match between this scenario’s best-bound score and objective value resulted in a 0.0% solution gap, further affirming the model’s reliability. The best-bound scores indicated no significant differences in these two procedures, demonstrating that the solutions were ideal within the allowed tolerances.

The Integrated Problem of Construction Project Scheduling and Multiskilled Staff Assignment with Learning Effect

Effective multiskill resource scheduling requires comprehensive workforce assignments. Drawing on the multiskill project scheduling problem perspective, this study investigates the integrated problem of project scheduling and multiskilled staffing based on a more realistic perspective that human skill level is dynamic and has a variable activity duration caused by the learning effect. An integer linear programming model is innovatively constructed to solve the problem directly. Moreover, an adapted tabu search algorithm with six resource-oriented priority strategies is designed to solve large-scale problems efficiently. Based on a realistic construction project case and numerical instances, comprehensive computational experiments are conducted to validate the proposed algorithm. The findings reveal the impact of different resource strategies on project duration and personal skill growth, particularly through the optimization of project scheduling according to the dynamic scenarios. The research extends conventional project scheduling knowledge and its methods by solving complex scheduling problems for improved project objectives and employee value. In practice, the model and the algorithm can be integrated into the project management information system for strategizing a plan of project scheduling and staff assignment proactively.

A branch-and-price-and-cut for the manpower allocation and vehicle routing problem with staff qualifications and time windows

This paper addresses a manpower allocation and vehicle routing problem with staff qualifications and time windows (MAVRP-SQTW), which is an extension of the manpower allocation and vehicle routing problem. This problem focuses on developing an optimal schedule for integrated staff assignment and vehicle routing in transportation systems to minimize outsourcing costs and travel costs. We first formulate this problem as an arc-flow model. Then, we design a branch-and-price-and-cut (BPC) algorithm based on a set-packing model for MAVRP-SQTW. To accelerate the column generation process, we apply the bounded bidirectional search and the decremental state–space relaxation. Meanwhile, we utilize subset-row inequalities to tighten the master model. Numerical results based on the modified Solomon’s instances show that our set-packing model solved by the BPC significantly outperforms the arc-flow model solved by CPLEX. Sensitivity analyses show that the numbers of vehicles and staff members as well as the number of staff types have great effects on the performance of the BPC. Results also suggest that the BPC can be able to optimally solve some instances with 70 requests, but solving large-scale instances is still the limitation of the BPC. Thus, we further develop a primal heuristic to improve the efficiency of solving large-scale instances and obtain relatively good solutions.