New decision support approach for locating self-dialysis centers
Résumé
The presented research is conducted within the framework of a research project under the PHC Utique program (Project No. 18G1410). The rising number of individuals requiring dialysis in both Europe and Africa, attributed to aging populations, underscores the need for innovative solutions. Home hemodialysis has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional hospitalization, offering the potential to alleviate hospital workloads, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the quality of life for patients.
Against this backdrop, a novel decision support approach has been developed to strategically determine the optimal locations for dialysis centers, specifically focusing on self-dialysis centers. This approach takes into account the dynamic variations in patient demand, considering factors such as patient mortality, new admissions, and transplantations. The methodology relies on a sophisticated branch-and-bound approach, showcasing its versatility and applicability to complex decision-making scenarios.
To validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, extensive testing has been conducted using various datasets. The results obtained from these evaluations affirm the robustness and efficacy of the developed methodology in addressing the dynamic challenges associated with dialysis center location determination.