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Discrete-event computer simulation methods in the optimisation of a physiotherapy clinic.
J R Villamizar1, F C Coelli, W C A Pereira
1Biomedical Engineering Program, COPPE - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Caixa Postal 68510 Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-970, Brazil.
Physiotherapy
|February 8, 2011
Summary
A computer model analyzed a physiotherapy clinic in Rio de Janeiro, revealing it can treat 89 patients daily. Optimizing patient scheduling increased capacity to 114 patients/day, demonstrating the model
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Operations Research in Healthcare
- Physiotherapy Clinic Management
Background:
- Standard physiotherapy clinics face challenges in optimizing patient flow and resource allocation.
- Accurate performance analysis is crucial for improving patient care and operational efficiency.
- A computer model can provide valuable insights into clinic performance under various scenarios.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and utilize a discrete-event simulation model for analyzing the performance of a physiotherapy clinic.
- To evaluate the clinic's current capacity and identify potential improvements.
- To assess the impact of changes in patient volume, staffing, and scheduling on clinic operations.
Main Methods:
- A discrete-event simulation model was developed based on data from a standard physiotherapy clinic in Rio de Janeiro.
- Clinic operational data, including patient procedures, treatment routines, arrival times, and lengths of stay, were collected.
- Five simulation strategies were implemented, varying patient numbers, human resources, and arrival schedules.
Main Results:
- The current clinic configuration can accommodate 89 patients per day, with an average stay of 119 minutes and a 3-minute wait time.
- Increasing patient arrival intervals to 6.5 minutes boosted maximum daily attendance to 114 patients.
- Optimal staffing for the current capacity was identified as three physiotherapists and 12 students; infrastructure could be reduced while maintaining capacity.
Conclusions:
- The developed computer model effectively evaluated the physiotherapy clinic's capacity.
- Simulation strategies demonstrated the significant impact of key variables (staffing, scheduling, infrastructure) on clinic operations.
- The model provides a tool for optimizing physiotherapy clinic performance and resource management.
