Using simulation modeling to improve patient flow at an outpatient orthopedic clinic

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Operations Research
• Clinical Process Improvement
• Health Systems Engineering

Background:

• Orthopedic outpatient clinics face challenges with patient waiting times and clinic congestion.
• These inefficiencies negatively impact patient satisfaction and staff morale.
• Existing clinic processes required optimization to improve patient flow and experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply discrete event simulation (DES) modeling for identifying process improvements in an orthopedic outpatient clinic.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of DES in addressing patient dissatisfaction and staff morale issues stemming from operational inefficiencies.
• To provide quantitative data to support the implementation of targeted clinic improvements.

Main Methods:

• Discrete event simulation modeling was employed to analyze current clinic operations.
• The model identified key areas for improvement, including staffing levels, patient scheduling, and staff punctuality.
• Data from before and after the implemented changes were statistically analyzed.

Main Results:

• Simulation modeling highlighted specific alternatives for enhancing clinic efficiency.
• Implemented improvements, guided by simulation results, led to significant reductions in patient waiting times.
• Overall patient time spent within the clinic was demonstrably reduced post-implementation.

Conclusions:

• Discrete event simulation is a valuable tool for optimizing healthcare processes in outpatient settings.
• Targeted interventions based on simulation modeling can effectively reduce patient wait times and improve clinic flow.
• Process improvements positively impact both patient satisfaction and operational efficiency in orthopedic clinics.