Discrete Event Simulation and Real Time Locating Systems: Technology Integration for Process Improvement

  • Authors:

  • Ajit N. Babu;T. Eugene Day;Steven M. Kymes;Nathan Ravi

  • Affiliations:

  • Center for Advancement of Global Health, Kochi, Kerala, India, & St. Louis VA Medical Center, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA;Center for Optimization and Semantic Control, St. Louis VA Medical Center & Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA;Center for Economic Evaluation in Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA;St. Louis VA Medical Center, Institute of Public Health, St. Louis University, & Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

  • Venue:
  • International Journal of E-Adoption
  • Year:
  • 2012

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Abstract

The Veteran's Health Administration VHA is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, forming the arm of the Department of Veterans Affairs VA that delivers medical services. From a troubled past, the VHA today is regarded as a model for healthcare transformation. The VA has evaluated and adopted a variety of cutting-edge approaches to foster greater efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare delivery as part of their systems redesign initiative. This paper discusses the integration of two health care analysis platforms: Discrete Event Simulation DES, and Real Time Locating systems RTLS presenting examples of work done at the St. Louis VA Medical Center. Use of RTLS data for generation and validation of DES models is detailed, with prescriptive discussion of methodologies. The authors recommend the careful consideration of these relatively new approaches which show promise in assisting systems redesign initiatives across the health care spectrum.