Influenza Season Staffing Optimization

The U.S. experiences a seasonal surge in influenza cases, leading to an increased number of people, especially those in vulnerable groups, requiring hospitalization dueto severe complications. To address this, medical staffing agencies supply additional temporary staff to assist hospitals and clinics in managing the influx of patients.

PROBLEM:

• Staff agency must determine where and how many staff to send to each state in order to prepare hospitals for the upcoming flu season.

OBJECTIVE:

• Perform statistical analysis to look at influenza trends so we can proactively plan for staffing requirements across the country.

Skills

Translating business requirements

Statistical hypothesis testing

Data cleaning, transformation & integration

Visual analysis

Forecasting

Storytelling in Tableau

Tools

Excel

Tableau

Data

CDC Influenza Deaths

US Census

Order Distribution by day of week

Influenza Deaths Between 2009-2017

Who are affected severely?

Population Above and below 65 is Analyzed on Statewise basis to plan the staff accordingly.

Spatial Analysis is Analysed based on Population and Geographical location USing Latitudes and Longitudes.

Prioritize deploying the majority of medical staff to the 15 states with high and medium needs, chosen based on the average annual death toll and significant vulnerable populations;

Maintain full staffing capacity, especially in high-need states, during the influenza season (November to March), aligning with historical patterns and optimizing support for the most susceptible age group, individuals aged 65 or older;

Focus on states with the largest vulnerable populations and the highest recorded influenza deaths between 2009 and 2017, ensuring strategic allocation of medical staff resources to meet specific needs during the peak season;

Tailor staffing decisions to states exhibiting both a substantial vulnerable population and the highest incidence of influenza-related mortality, emphasizing a proactive and targeted approach for effective healthcare provision;