DOI: 10.34810/data2951
title: Replication Data for: Application of a sampling and clustering-based heuristic search algorithm to find an efficient staff configuration in an emergency department

description: This dataset was created to support the validation and analysis of a heuristic search approach for optimizing staff configurations in a hospital Emergency Department. Its primary purpose is to provide transparent and reproducible evidence for the experimental results reported in the associated scientific publication, enabling readers to understand how performance indicators were derived and how different staff configurations were evaluated.

The dataset consists of derived, tabulated results obtained from simulation experiments conducted using a validated Agent-Based Emergency Department simulator. It includes (i) enumerated lists of candidate staff configurations generated by a sampling and clustering–based heuristic search algorithm, and (ii) post-processed performance indicators computed for selected configurations. The data contain no patient-level or personally identifiable information, and do not include source code or raw simulation logs.

The scope of the dataset is limited to the experimental scenarios analyzed in the associated publication. It is intended for methodological transparency, comparative analysis, and secondary research on healthcare operations and heuristic optimization methods. While the simulator and heuristic implementation are not publicly distributed, the provided results allow independent inspection of the reported outcomes and facilitate reuse for benchmarking, methodological discussion, or educational purposes.

This dataset contains tabulated results derived from simulation experiments conducted to evaluate the optimization of staffing configurations in a hospital emergency department using MCSA, a heuristic search algorithm based on sampling and clustering.
The data correspond to the simulation results carried out under different staff configurations and experimental scenarios. These results are the computed performance indicators that support the analysis and conclusions presented in the associated scientific publication.

The dataset does not include source code or raw patient data and is based on simulations generated using a validated emergency department simulator calibrated with anonymized real-world data.
description: MS Excel, null
description: METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION


The data were generated through Montecarlo simulation experiments using a validated Agent-Based Emergency Department Simulator. A sampling and clustering-based heuristic search algorithm (MCSA) was applied to explore the space of staff configurations. Each configuration was evaluated through multiple simulation replications to obtain statistically meaningful performance indicators.

1. Description of methods used for collection-generation of data: 
The dataset was generated through controlled Montecarlo simulation experiments using a validated Agent-Based Emergency Department Simulator. A sampling and clustering-based heuristic search algorithm (MCSA) was applied to explore the space of possible staff configurations.
For each candidate staff configuration, multiple simulation replications were executed to obtain statistically robust performance indicators such as resource occupancy and patient length-of-stay metrics.
The methodological details of the heuristic algorithm and the experimental design are described in the associated publication:
"Application of a sampling and clustering-based heuristic search algorithm to find an efficient staff configuration in an emergency department. Expert Systems with Applications, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.eswa.2025.128803"
This publication contains the rationale for the experimental scenarios, selection of Montecarlo iterations, and the procedure for evaluating and comparing staff configurations.


2. Methods for processing the data: 
Primary simulation outputs were aggregated and post-processed to compute key performance indicators such as patient flow metrics and resource utilization measures. The published dataset contains the processed tabular results used for analysis and visualization in the associated publication.


3. Instrument- or software- specific information needed to interpret the data:
Standard spreadsheet software or statistical analysis tools capable of reading CSV files.
The simulation software itself is not required to interpret or reuse the published dataset and is not publicly accessible.
The Emergency Department simulator and the Heuristic implementation are maintained in a private GitHub repository, nevertheless, the methodology is clearly described in the associated scientific publication. Access to the simulation software may be granted upon reasonable request to the authors, subject to permission and usage conditions.
The dataset uses open, standard formats (CSV for tabular data) to ensure accessibility without the need for proprietary software.


4. Instruments, calibration and standards information:
The simulator was previously validated and calibrated using anonymized real-world emergency department data, following established validation procedures in healthcare simulation.


5. Environmental or experimental conditions:
All simulations were executed in a controlled computational environment with random seeds per experiment.


6. Quality-assurance procedures performed on the data:
Multiple simulation replications were performed for each configuration. Consistency checks and sanity validations were applied to ensure correctness and stability of the reported indicators.