Methods of resource management – the case of healthcare

Various issues referring to general problems of resource allocation in the area of healthcare were discussed in the article. Fundamental questions regarding the process of allocating healthcare resources were pointed out. The topics were presented according to the categories of methods used to potentially solve these problems. The following approaches were considered: chosen methods of mathematical programming, queuing theory, simulation, hybrid algorithms combining, among others, artificial intelligence and other techniques, as well as standard cost-effectiveness methods. Such methods were applied to the following problems, analyzing the current state of health care units and presenting proposals of changes to such systems. The modifications suggested referred to: allocation of material resources, planning the work schedules of medical personnel and patient admission. The question of determining the effectiveness of various medical strategies was also discussed. The article clearly underlined the importance and complexity of the problem of managing healthcare resources.