Open AccessA modular simulation study to improve patient flow to inpatient units in the emergency department
Author(s) -
Shaghayegh Norouzzadeh,
Joseph Garber,
Melonie Longacre,
Salaahuddin Akbar,
Nancy Riebling,
Robin Clark
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of hospital administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1927-7008
pISSN - 1927-6990
DOI - 10.5430/jha.v3n6p205
Subject(s) - overcrowding , workflow , emergency department , discrete event simulation , modular design , process (computing) , operations management , computer science , medical emergency , event (particle physics) , patient satisfaction , medicine , emergency medicine , simulation , engineering , nursing , database , economics , operating system , economic growth , physics , quantum mechanics
In this study, a modular discrete event simulation (computer modeling) has been presented to support process improvements in a hospital’s emergency department (ED) to streamline admitted patient flow to inpatient units. Because the ED in this study has less than 10 beds, unnecessary occupation of beds affects the patient wait time dramatically. Additionally, ED overcrowding diminishes the quality of care, increases costs, and decreases employee and patient satisfaction. The modular simulation model evaluated the effectiveness of several recommended workflow improvements, resulting from comprehensive statistical analysis, based on their impact on cycle time and time traps in the process. The results suggested that, to ensure better efficiency and optimal cycle time, all of the suggested workflow improvements should be implemented simultaneously. The model also suggested that achieving customer satisfaction is possible 96.26% of the time with the current resource allocations in the ED.