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Integrating Energy Efficiency into Healthcare Operations: A Discrete-Event Simulation Approach for Surgical Pathways
Francesco Sferrazzo1, Beatrice Marchi1, Anna Savio1
1Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Optimizing hospital workflows and upgrading technology can significantly reduce energy consumption in healthcare facilities. This study shows that organizational changes and technological improvements together offer the greatest gains in efficiency and sustainability.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare operations research
- Sustainable healthcare systems
- Clinical process modeling
Background:
- Hospitals are highly energy-intensive facilities.
- Current decision-support models often overlook energy performance.
- Integrating energy metrics with operational efficiency is crucial for sustainable healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a discrete-event simulation framework for evaluating clinical efficiency and energy consumption.
- To analyze energy use in elective orthopedic surgical pathways.
- To identify strategies for improving both operational and environmental performance in hospitals.
Main Methods:
- Developed a discrete-event simulation model for diagnostic imaging and orthopedic surgery.
- Utilized hybrid data collection: clinical data, literature, and expert judgment.
- Modeled energy consumption differentiating fixed and activity-dependent loads.
Main Results:
- Fixed infrastructural loads (HVAC, lighting) are primary energy consumers per patient.
- Inefficient space use and long idle times increase energy intensity.
- Organizational interventions (e.g., OR throughput, MRI scheduling) and technological upgrades (e.g., LED lighting) reduce energy consumption.
Conclusions:
- Discrete-event simulation effectively integrates energy metrics into hospital decision-making.
- Organizational redesign combined with technological upgrades significantly enhances operational efficiency and sustainability.
- This approach supports energy-aware healthcare planning and resource management.
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