Modeling patient flow operation of a US urban county hospital

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kumar, Sameer

Affiliations: Opus College of Business, University of St. Thomas, 1000 LaSalle Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Tel.: +1 651 962 4350; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: System dynamics modeling methodology is well suited to address the constantly changing complexity that characterizes designing a modern urban hospital's patient flow operation. It involves the development of simulation models that portray process flows and feedback that may be tested to find effective designs to overcome ineffective means of healthcare delivery. An urban county hospital (UCH) in Minnesota, USA is used to demonstrate a modular system dynamics modeling approach to simulate and optimize internal patient and process flow where major costs are also considered. This allows decision makers to visualize overall efficiencies through optimal bed capacity for peak patient flow of emergency and routine patients in a large healthcare delivery operation.

Keywords: System dynamics, hospital planning, health service, hospitals, patient flow, process analysis, modeling, capacity planning

DOI: 10.3233/THC-2011-0627

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 247-260, 2011