In times of health crisis or pandemic, allowing patients to choose the hospital at which they will receive treatment and providing incentives to influence those choices can be an effective way to manage capacity, according to a study published in the International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research.
Traditionally, patients are assigned to a hospital in times of public health crises. However, researchers found implementing an incentive-based approach to manage hospital capacity and allow patient choice keeps capacity balanced, patients satisfied and resources efficiently deployed, according to a news release.
Researchers' proposed incentives to guide patient hospital choice included financial discounts, fast-tracked service, mobile pharmacy services and convenient transportation.
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