In 2022, the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein announced the construction of a new building dedicated exclusively to cancer treatment, located in Parque Global, São Paulo. At that time, the HIAE unit in Morumbi was already dealing with a notable increase in demand for oncology treatments. With the new center under development, the institution saw an opportunity to design a new hospital with high operational performance to meet this growing demand.
dhauz was then hired to analyze a large volume of data and, using analytical methods and algorithms, design an optimized layout for the new hospital. The program includes the Center for Advanced Care and Therapies in Oncology and Hematology, covering diagnostics and cancer treatments, oncology-related appointments, bone marrow surgery, and general emergency care.
Through the partnership, the main goal was to centralize the operations of the new hospital efficiently, minimizing the physical journey of all individuals involved in the operation—and especially the movement required from patients.
Four Analytical Techniques
The project began with the gathering of data and insights, including patient volume, equipment, and existing hospital workflows. dhauz carried out a detailed analysis to understand the needs and particularities of oncology treatment.
Next, a model was developed based on Process Mining, through which we were able to reproduce each patient’s physical journey through the hospital—the so-called Clinical Paths. With this mapping, we segmented patients to clearly understand these journeys and to enable the mapping of cross-consumption of resources (all structures and equipment involved in the oncology workflow).
From there, using predictive models, it was possible to estimate future consumption volumes based on trends in oncology treatment evolution (such as outpatient care), and consequently calculate the necessary space for each department in the future hospital (for example: how many chemotherapy stations would be required, how many radiation rooms, how many surgical beds, and so on).
To complete the design of the optimized hospital, dhauz applied an optimization methodology to position areas and rooms across each floor in a way that minimized distances traveled by patients and healthcare professionals.
The result was the characterization of 43 segments, considering various stakeholders involved in the hospital flow, including patients, doctors, nurses, cleaning staff, and medication/equipment movement teams.
The project also included multiple workflow simulations. Bottlenecks were identified, and the solution involved the use of a Data Lake for extensive data analysis and modeling. The adoption of Databricks to support engineering and data science efforts brought significant agility to the project team.
Optimized Layout
The layout created by dhauz allowed for the vertical optimization of the oncology center, defining the best configuration of each floor, rooms, departments, and the surgical center.
The use of optimization modeling enabled the ideal allocation of space on each floor, resulting in an optimized staffing framework for the new hospital. Additionally, there was a 19% gain in operational efficiency—meaning reduced travel time within the hospital.
“With data analysis, it was possible to anticipate future needs, taking into account population aging and advancements in medicine,” explains Fabio Ferraretto, general manager at dhauz.
The optimized layout reflects a 20-year vision, projecting changes in treatment demand, such as radiotherapy. “That is why the partnership resulted not only in an architectural plan, but also in significant insights regarding the oncology patient journey,” he adds.
Now, with the design developed by dhauz in the hands of the architecture team, the new hospital—scheduled for completion in 2026—will be prepared to receive more patients, provide a high-performance care experience, and face future challenges with an intelligent and efficient operational model.
