About the project
The OptiCare-AI project addresses the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in Norway, particularly in home-based healthcare. Although Norway has a high ratio of healthcare workers to its population, many municipalities still face recruitment challenges.
This project aims to optimize staffing using AI-driven solutions to increase full-time employment, balance task distribution, improve job satisfaction, and enhance care quality.
The main objective is to develop evidence-based, consensus-driven strategies for optimal staff deployment, allowing healthcare personnel to maximize their expertise.
The project also seeks to create a full-time working culture and explore AI for more effective scheduling in municipalities. It will include a comparative analysis of healthcare in Norway and Finland to identify best practices, as Finland has been more successful in establishing full-time positions among healthcare professionals.
A key challenge for OptiCare-AI is implementing AI-based scheduling to best use available personnel while ensuring continuous, high-quality care. This involves overcoming organizational and technical barriers, such as predicting sick leave and adapting to various shift patterns.
By evaluating AI-based scheduling systems, the project aims to optimize resource allocation, reduce reliance on temporary staff, and foster a supportive work environment.
The research adopts an interdisciplinary approach, combining action research, comparative analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Collaboration with municipalities, trade unions, and technology providers ensures practical, sustainable solutions tailored to real-world conditions.
The project’s outcomes are expected to offer valuable insights into workforce management, helping other municipalities and healthcare organizations tackle similar staffing challenges.
Project leader
