Document Type : Research Article
Authors
Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Iran
10.30473/coam.2026.74222.1301
Abstract
Efficient layout design in healthcare facilities is critical for operational effectiveness and patient care. This study addresses the healthcare facility layout problem using a multi-objective optimization approach. We propose a novel methodology based on graph theory, specifically planar adjacency graphs, to generate and evaluate department layouts. Nodes in the graph represent departments, while weighted edges represent the desired closeness based on patient flow and functional relationships. We introduce five strategies based on different weightings of these objectives and evaluate them using a real-world hospital case study. Our results show that a hybrid strategy, prioritizing patient flow while incorporating departmental relationships, yields the optimal layout. This approach provides a systematic and data-driven framework for healthcare planners to create efficient layouts that enhance workflow, reduce travel distances, and improve overall service quality.
Highlights
- A novel graph-theoretic heuristic framework is developed for solving a multi-objective healthcare facility layout problem.
- The methodology employs Planar Adjacency Graphs (PAGs) to systematically model departmental relationships and spatial constraints.
- A weighted multi-objective structure integrates patient flow intensity and functional closeness requirements into a unified optimization model.
- Five distinct layout generation strategies are designed and comparatively evaluated using different objective weight configurations.
- A real-world hospital case study validates the practical applicability and robustness of the proposed approach.
- Results demonstrate that a hybrid weighting strategy, prioritizing patient flow while incorporating interdepartmental relationships, achieves superior performance.
- The proposed framework effectively minimizes travel distances, enhances workflow efficiency, and supports evidence-based healthcare facility planning.
- The approach provides a strong initial layout solution when department locations and areas are not pre-determined.
- The study establishes a bridge between graph theory and practical healthcare facility design, offering actionable insights for planners and decision-makers.
Keywords
Main Subjects
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