TL;DR
A thematic review of 30 studies reveals a shift in industrial engineering approaches for elderly care from static models to dynamic, AI-integrated frameworks. However, a gap remains in translating operational efficiencies into measurable health outcomes.
✦ Why It Matters
Focus on integrating operational efficiencies with patient outcomes in elderly care today.
Key Takeaways
Full Summary
The global aging population poses significant challenges for healthcare systems, necessitating innovative care models. This review categorizes 30 key studies at the intersection of Operations Research (OR) and elderly care into three areas: home healthcare operations, polypharmacy management, and clinical chronotherapy.
It highlights a methodological evolution from static, deterministic models to dynamic, stochastic frameworks that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI). Despite advancements, the literature primarily focuses on process-level optimizations, such as staff routing, without effectively linking these improvements to clinical outcomes.
Additionally, there is a lack of comprehensive models that connect hospital and community care. To address these issues, a conceptual framework is proposed that emphasizes integrated decision-making and the use of digital technologies, like digital twins and large language models, to enhance patient-level health outcomes.
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