Modeling hospital surgical delivery process design using system simulation: Optimizing patient flow and bed capacity as an illustration

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kumar, Sameer

Affiliations: Opus College of Business, University of St. Thomas, Mail # TMH 343, 1000 LaSalle Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Tel.: +1 651 962 4350; Fax: +1 651 962 4710; E-mail: skumar@stthomas.edu

Abstract: Objectives:It is increasingly recognized that hospital operation is an intricate system with limited resources and many interacting sources of both positive and negative feedback. The purpose of this study is to design a surgical delivery process in a county hospital in the U.S where patient flow through a surgical ward is optimized. Method:The system simulation modeling is used to address questions of capacity planning, throughput management and interacting resources which constitute the constantly changing complexity that characterizes designing a contemporary surgical delivery process in a hospital. Results:The steps in building a system simulation model is demonstrated using an example of building a county hospital in a small city in the US. It is used to illustrate a modular system simulation modeling of patient surgery process flows. Conclusions:The system simulation model development will enable planners and designers how they can build in overall efficiencies in a healthcare facility through optimal bed capacity for peak patient flow of emergency and routine patients.

Keywords: System simulation modeling, hospital planning, health service, patient flow, process analysis, operations research

DOI: 10.3233/THC-2011-0607

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 1-20, 2011