Home Health Care Problem with Synchronization Visits and Considering Samples Transferring Time: A Case Study in Tehran, Iran

Health care facilities have not increased in response to the growing population. Therefore, government and health agencies are constantly seeking cost-effective alternatives so they can provide effective health care to their constituents. Around the world, health care organizations provide home health care (HHC) services to patients, especially the elderly, as an efficient alternative to hospital care. In addition, recent pandemics have demonstrated the importance of home health care as a means of preventing infection. This study is the first to simultaneously take into account nurses’ working preferences and skill levels. Since transferring samples from the patient’s home to the laboratory may affect the test results, this study takes into account the time it takes to transfer samples. In order to solve large instances, two metaheuristic algorithms are proposed: Genetic Algorithms and Particle Swarm Optimization. Nurses are assigned tasks according to their time windows and the tasks’ time windows in a three-stage scheduling procedure. Using a case study set in Tehran, Iran, the proposed model is demonstrated. Even in emergencies, models can generate effective strategies. There are significant implications for health service management and health policymakers in countries where home health care services are receiving more attention. Furthermore, they contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding health system strategies by providing new theoretical and practical insights.