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Case—AdWords to AdWards: Online Optimization for Hospital Patient Placement

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This case illustrates online optimization algorithms for sequential decision making. Students are asked to translate an unfamiliar healthcare setting into a well-known online optimization problem, the Google AdWords problem. The case is based on an actual process improvement project aimed at maximizing the use of a hospital’s capacity. The main character, Dr. Kelly, heads an observation unit and had tried a predictive model for patient assignments to her unit versus the hospital wards, which, however, can sometimes lead to inefficient bed capacity management. She is looking to improve patient allocation decisions made in real time. The complexity of the healthcare environment makes the mapping challenging, requires discussions with experts with domain knowledge and various stakeholders in the process, and raises ethical questions.

Source: INFORMS Transactions on Education

DOI: 10.1287/ited.2025.0147cs

Authors: Dessislava Pachamanova, Vera Tilson, Keely Dwyer-Matzky

Institutions: Babson College, University of Rochester, University of Rochester Medicine, Golisano Children's Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare Operations and Scheduling Optimization

Subfield: Management Science and Operations Research

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7225343888

FWCI:

Cites: 7

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Related to: 10