Smarter care: how math is reducing waiting times in healthcare

Currently, care providers manage their own waiting lists, often leading to inefficiencies and longer delays. Arntzen’s research shows that a centralized approach can significantly improve patient flow. By combining waiting lists and coordinating placements across different care facilities, organizations can better match supply and demand.

Another key insight: increasing placement capacity outside office hours reduces hospital stays. Many elderly patients remain in hospitals longer than necessary simply because care facilities mainly operate during the day. A more flexible system would prevent delays and free up hospital beds for those in urgent need.

Broader impact

While this research focuses on elderly care, its potential goes beyond that. The same data-driven principles could improve efficiency in other sectors, such as mental healthcare, where long waiting lists are also a major challenge. By applying smart scheduling and optimizing care pathways, more patients could receive help sooner.

Real impact

Better healthcare logistics don’t require major investments—just smarter coordination. Arntzen’s research proves that a well-organized system benefits both patients and care providers. She will present her findings on February 12 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

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