Support-based distributed optimisation: An approach to radiotherapy scheduling

Authors

Graham Billiau, University of WollongongFollow
Chee Fon Chang, University Of WollongongFollow
Aditya Ghose, University of WollongongFollow
Andrew Alexis Miller, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

84240

Publication Details

Billiau, G., Chang, C., Ghose, A. & Miller, A. (2011). Support-based distributed optimisation: An approach to radiotherapy scheduling. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering (pp. 327-334). Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.

Abstract

The public health system is plagued by inefficient use of resources. Frequently, the results are lengthy patient treatment waiting times. While many solutions for patient scheduling in health systems exist, few address the problem of coordination between independent autonomous departments. In this study, we describe the use of a distributed dynamic constraint optimisation algorithm (Support Based Distributed Optimisation) for the generation and optimisation of schedules across autonomous units. We model the problem of scheduling radiotherapy patients across several independent oncology units as a dynamic distributed constraint optimisation problem. Such an approach minimises the sharing of private information such as department operation details as well as patient privacy information while taking into consideration patient preferences as well as resource utilisation to find a pareto-optimal solution.