Passage require analysis and breakdown

Used as a screening tool, optimization models provide potential outcomes for certain scenarios. Performance is improved in one of two ways: either eliminating inferior options or providing variables that will yield the highest performance possible (Loucks & Beek, 2017). There exist many optimization models, but for the purposes of this discussion question, only linear programming will be focused upon.

Often, solving linear problems using linear programming yields the most efficient solutions (Loucks & Beek, 2017). However, it is important to note that the problem must be converted into a linear form. Linear programming problems also have restrictions or constraints that limit the degree to which the objective can be pursued (Anderson, Sweeney, Williams, Camm, Cochran, Fry, & Ohlmann, 2016). Those restrictions or constraints aren't to be taken in a way that signifies that linear programming has an inherent weakness to it. Rather, there are constraints or restrictions inherent to the problem that must be considered during the process of creating a mathematical model.

Two key strategic decisions made by my organization was to limit the number of surgical cases to only emergencies and to screen every patient that is to get surgery for COVID-19. I would think that it would be difficult to enhance the decision to screen every patient for COVID-19 because it is deemed to be an absolute necessity. Rather, linear programming may have helped with the decision regarding the number of daily cases that go through the operating room.

Using the procedure for linear programming provided by Anderson et. al (2016), relationships between variables and constraints are defined, which ultimately yields a mathematical model. The model may then determine the optimal number of operations that may occur within a day as defined by the constraints set forth in the model and the objective of the model. In this case, the objective would be to maximize profits given constraints such as maintaining patient and staff safety, for example.