Evaluating the Capacity of Clinical Pathways through Discrete-Event Simulation
KU Leuven Department of Decision Sciences and Information Management Working Paper No. KBI 0712
24 Pages Posted: 14 Feb 2008
Date Written: 2007
Abstract
Organizing a medical facility efficiently is hard due to the numerous patient trajectories and their use of joint and scarce resources. Moreover, these trajectories tend to be complex and characterized by uncertain medical processes. In this paper, we will structure patient trajectories using clinical pathways and aggregate them in a discrete-event simulation model. This model enables the health manager to evaluate and improve important performance indicators, both for the patient and the hospital, by conducting a detailed sensitivity analysis. Two case studies, performed at large hospitals in Antwerp and Leuven (Belgium), will be introduced and briefly discussed in order to illustrate the generic nature of the model.
Keywords: Capacity management, Case studies, Discrete-event simulation, Health care operations, Processes, Structure, Simulation, Model, Performance, Indicators, Sensitivity, Studies, Hospitals, Belgium, Order
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