Using Discrete Event Simulation (DES) to Manage Theatre Operations in Healthcare: An Audit-Based Case Study

Authors:
Alexander Komashie;Ali Mousavi;Justin Gore
Affiliations:
-;-;-
Venue:
UKSIM '08 Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Computer Modeling and Simulation
Year:
2008

Citing 0
Cited 3

A generic framework for real-time discrete event simulation (DES) modelling

Proceedings of the 40th Conference on Winter Simulation
Input modeling for hospital simulation models using electronic messages

Winter Simulation Conference
Simulation-based real-time performance monitoring (SIMMON): a platform for manufacturing and healthcare systems

Proceedings of the Winter Simulation Conference

Quantified Score

Hi-index	0.00

Visualization

Abstract

This paper discusses the application of Discrete Event Simulation (DES) in modelling the complex relationship between patient types, case-mix and operating theatre allocation in a large National Health Service (NHS) Trust in London. The simulation model that was constructed described the main features of nine theatres, focusing on operational processes and patient throughput times. The model was used to test three scenarios of case-mix and to demonstrate the potential of using simulation modelling as a cost effective method for understanding the issues of healthcare operations management and the role of simulation techniques in problem solving. The results indicated that removing all day cases will reduce patient throughput by 23.3% and the utilization of the orthopaedic theatre in particular by 6.5%. This represents a case example of how DES can be used by healthcare managers to inform decision making.