Process improvement in hospitals: a case study in a radiology department

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Operations Research
• Radiology Department Optimization

Background:

• German university hospital faces challenges with patient flow and machine utilization in its radiology department.
• Radiological devices are dispersed across a large campus, complicating patient transport, especially for those with limited mobility.
• Current organizational practices lead to significant patient waiting times and underutilized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patient flow and machine utilization within a hospital radiology department.
• To identify and quantify optimization potential for improving departmental efficiency.
• To support organizational change planning through data-driven insights.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a case study at a large German university hospital.
• Utilized discrete event multicriteria simulation modeling to analyze patient flow.
• Modeled and compared various scenarios to assess distinct organizational alternatives.

Main Results:

• Identified high patient waiting times and machine idle times in the current operational setup.
• Demonstrated the effectiveness of simulation modeling in evaluating different organizational strategies.
• Achieved improved machine utilization and reduced patient waiting times through implemented optimizations.

Conclusions:

• Discrete event simulation is a valuable tool for optimizing hospital radiology operations.
• Organizational changes informed by simulation can significantly enhance efficiency and patient care.
• Addressing patient transport logistics is crucial for improving appointment punctuality and overall workflow.