登录查看更多内容

How can simulation methods optimize hospital patient flow?

由人工智能和领英社区提供技术支持

Hospital patient flow is the movement of patients through the different stages of care, from admission to discharge. Optimizing patient flow can improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of health services, as well as patient satisfaction and outcomes. However, patient flow is affected by many factors, such as demand, capacity, resources, policies, and uncertainties. How can simulation methods help hospital managers and staff to analyze and improve patient flow?

此文章中的业界达人

由社区从 4 条内容中精选。了解更多

Gnana K Bharathy

Arificial Intelligence and Research Data Specialist (Strategy, Design & Data Science) @ UTS/ ARDC, serving national…

1 Simulation methods

Simulation methods are techniques that use mathematical models to mimic the behavior and interactions of a real system, such as a hospital. Simulation methods can capture the complexity and variability of patient flow, and allow users to test different scenarios and strategies without disrupting the actual operations. Simulation methods can also provide quantitative and visual feedback on the performance and outcomes of the system, such as waiting times, throughput, utilization, costs, and quality indicators.

添加您的观点

Gnana K Bharathy

Arificial Intelligence and Research Data Specialist (Strategy, Design & Data Science) @ UTS/ ARDC, serving national universities & research institutions. Many years of consulting experience in a range of sectors.
举报内容
I have used three major modeling and simulation paradigms are used in Modeling of Hospital Processes: System Dynamics (SD), Agent-Based (ABM), and Discrete Event (DEM). SD- Top down approach, good at representing feedback, but requires one to specify relationships a priori (e.g. via dif eqns), and is valuable for strategic decision-making and understanding system-level interactions, ABM - Bottom up approach useful for modelling the behaviors and interactions of individual agents. DEM simulates processes as series of series of discrete events, like patient arrival or treatment, and useful for optimizing specific operational processes. In reality, I have used them together to represent different parts of the hospital or healthcare system.

已翻译

赞
Glenn Jakobsen, DO, FAAPMR, FABDA

Board-certified Physical Medicine & Rehab. Brown University MPH Candidate. Founder@The Digital Equity Initiative. Committed to an ethical, equitable, and accessible digital health revolution.
举报内容
The ability to reduce fairly complex systems, such as hospital patient flow, to computational models provides numerous benefits. Once mostly seen in military and cybersecurity, simulations within healthcare allow manipulating independent variables to measure impact on dependent variables like patient outcomes, cost-benefit ratios, and CX, without the potential adverse impact on working systems. Measures may span resource allocation, capacity planning, workflow optimization, triage, clinic and ED wait times, emergency preparedness, predictive analytics, and resilience. A combined approach might search for the best balance of outcomes and cost-benefit. AI can play a pivotal role by virtually red-teaming scenarios before implementation.

已翻译

赞

2 Types of simulation

Different types of simulation methods can be used for patient flow optimization, depending on the purpose, scope, and level of detail of the analysis. Discrete-event simulation (DES) models the system as a sequence of events that occur at discrete points in time, such as arrivals, departures, services, and transfers. This method captures the stochastic and dynamic nature of patient flow, allowing for the evaluation of resource allocation, scheduling, and prioritization policies. Agent-based simulation (ABS) models the system as a collection of autonomous agents that interact with each other and the environment. This method captures the heterogeneity and adaptability of patient flow, allowing for the evaluation of individual behaviors, preferences, and decisions. System dynamics simulation (SDS) models the system as a set of interrelated feedback loops that influence the stock and flow of resources. This method captures the long-term and aggregate effects of patient flow, allowing for the evaluation of system-wide policies, trends, and feedback mechanisms.

添加您的观点

3 Steps for simulation

Using simulation methods for patient flow optimization involves several steps, such as defining the objectives and scope of the study, collecting and analyzing data on the current state of the system, building and validating the simulation model using a software tool, running the simulation model and analyzing the results, experimenting with different alternatives and optimizations, and communicating and implementing the findings and recommendations. For example, you can change resource levels, schedules, rules, or policies to compare the results with a baseline scenario. Additionally, you should present the simulation results to stakeholders to explain the benefits and trade-offs of any proposed changes. Finally, you should monitor the actual impact of any implemented changes.

添加您的观点

4 Benefits of simulation

Simulation methods can provide many benefits for patient flow optimization, such as identifying and quantifying bottlenecks, delays, and inefficiencies in the current system and their root causes and effects. It can also explore and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of different solutions and improvements, as well as their potential outcomes and impacts. Simulation methods can support and enhance decision-making and planning processes by providing evidence-based, data-driven insights and recommendations. Additionally, these methods can increase understanding of the system dynamics and interdependencies, as well as the implications of changes or interventions. Finally, simulation methods can facilitate communication among stakeholders through visual and interactive tools.

添加您的观点

Louise Heenan

MRI Radiographer/Mammographer/Oncology Imaging/Education (Former Lecturer at Robert Gordon University)
举报内容
Simulation and audit of patient flow are beneficial for many reasons. This type of research can help to highlight geographic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, sex, gender identity, and age-based health inequalities. Surveillance of referral, attendance, and delay rates; waiting, discharge, and reporting times, staffing levels, service interruptions, and equipment downtime against service targets is key to identifying issues. Patient flow analysis can promote more equitable service provision by identifying characteristically or systematically underserved patient groups. However, debrief and information sharing are key to the design and integration of service interventions that enhance care provision and health outcomes for these patients.

已翻译

赞

5 Challenges of simulation

Simulation methods can also present some challenges when it comes to optimizing patient flow. Obtaining and processing reliable data on the system can be difficult, as can selecting and applying the appropriate type and level of simulation. Additionally, developing and maintaining the simulation model, interpreting and presenting the results, and translating the findings into practice all need to be addressed. It's important to consider the trade-off between simplicity and realism, accuracy and validity, as well as uncertainty, variability, and assumptions. Finally, any barriers or resistance to change must be overcome.

添加您的观点

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

添加您的观点

Gnana K Bharathy

Arificial Intelligence and Research Data Specialist (Strategy, Design & Data Science) @ UTS/ ARDC, serving national universities & research institutions. Many years of consulting experience in a range of sectors.
举报内容
Continuing from the above, the integration of SD, ABM and DEM (as well as ML) has significantly contributed to the understanding and improvement of hospital processes. It is, however, limitations of each techniques and the challenges of validating complex system models need to be taken into consideration. The best use case are to represent and understand the complex system and ask the right questions. Among them, DEM is easier to collect data for, as it pertains to queuing processes.

已翻译

赞

Operations Research

+ 关注

给文章评分

我们借助人工智能创建了此文章。您认为这篇文章怎么样？

很棒不太好

举报此文章

查看全部

How can simulation methods optimize hospital patient flow?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Simulation methods

2 Types of simulation

3 Steps for simulation

4 Benefits of simulation

5 Challenges of simulation

6 Here’s what else to consider

Operations Research

给文章评分

感谢您的反馈

更多Operations Research相关文章

更多相关阅读内容

How can simulation methods optimize hospital patient flow?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Simulation methods

2 Types of simulation

3 Steps for simulation

4 Benefits of simulation

5 Challenges of simulation

6 Here’s what else to consider

Operations Research

给文章评分

感谢您的反馈

查看其他技能