Preface
Abstract
The first publication in Operations Research specifically dealing with health appeared in June 1957 (Blumberg [Blumberg, M. S. 1957. Evaluating health screening procedures. Opns. Res.5 351–360]). Since that time the management of health services has received substantial attention from operations researchers. This activity has been reflected in the many health-care delivery papers published individually and in special collections in Operations Research and other related journals. Another indicator of the large interest of operations research professionals in health care is that the Health Applications Section of ORSA has had over 500 members annually for the past five years. Because of these strong research and membership interests, the editor of Operations Research authorized this special issue.
