An interactive framework for developing simulation models of hospital accident and emergency services.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Operations Research
• Simulation Modeling

Background:

• Discrete-event simulation is a powerful tool for healthcare system analysis.
• Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments face complex operational challenges.
• Effective modeling is crucial for optimizing A&E performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an interactive framework for modeling and simulating hospital A&E departments.
• To enhance simulation capabilities with visual patient flow and activity representation.
• To facilitate dynamic insights and scenario comparison for decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Utilized discrete-event simulation software (SIMUL8) integrated with an interactive spreadsheet (Excel) for data input.
• Configured the simulation to visually display patient flow, activity, and queue dynamics on a schematic A&E plan.
• Incorporated patient icons, process visualization, and real-time activity tracking.

Main Results:

• The framework successfully visualized patient flow and activity within the A&E department.
• Modellers and decision-makers gained dynamic, visual insights into system performance.
• The interactive nature allowed for rapid parameter changes to test various scenarios.

Conclusions:

• The interactive simulation framework offers a valuable tool for understanding and improving A&E department operations.
• Visualizing patient flow enhances comprehension of system dynamics and bottlenecks.
• The ability to easily test scenarios supports evidence-based decision-making in healthcare management.