Estimating the waiting time of multi-priority emergency patients with downstream blocking

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Operations Research
• Health Systems Engineering
• Queueing Theory Applications

Background:

• Patient flow dynamics between emergency departments (ED) and inpatient units (IU) are complex and interconnected.
• Inefficient resource allocation can lead to significant patient waiting times and impact overall hospital efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model and analyze the coupling effect between patient flow to ED and IU.
• To estimate average patient waiting times and required ED/IU resources.
• To evaluate the impact of a 'Fast Track' ED access on waiting times and resource needs.

Main Methods:

• Development of a two-connected-queue model representing ED and IU patient flow.
• Application of queueing theory to estimate waiting times and resource requirements.
• Simulation and analysis of an alternative ED access pathway (Fast Track).

Main Results:

• The model quantifies the interdependence of ED and IU patient flow.
• Queueing theory provides estimates for average waiting times and necessary ED/IU resources based on priority targets.
• The 'Fast Track' pathway demonstrates potential to reduce average waiting times and optimize resource allocation.

Conclusions:

• The developed patient flow model offers valuable insights for hospital resource management.
• Queueing theory is a robust tool for analyzing healthcare system performance and optimizing ED/IU resource allocation.
• Strategic implementation of alternative access pathways, like Fast Track, can enhance patient flow and operational efficiency.