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Computer simulation analysis of blood donor queueing problems

M L Pratt, A J Grindon

|May 1, 1982

Summary

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Controlling blood collection queues requires managing donor arrivals to not exceed system capacity. Even arrivals are better than uneven ones, and scheduling men first can save time.

Area of Science:

Operations research
Healthcare management
Blood banking logistics

Background:

Blood collection drives face challenges with donor flow and waiting times.
Inefficient scheduling can lead to donor dissatisfaction and reduced collection efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze donor scheduling strategies and their impact on queueing in blood collection.
To identify optimal strategies for managing donor flow and system capacity.

Main Methods:

Utilized a computer simulation model to study workflow and queueing dynamics.
Compared different donor arrival patterns (stream, block, random) at a constant hourly rate.
Evaluated the effect of arrival variability and processing times on queue length.

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Main Results:

Controlling queueing depends on managing arrival rates within system capacity, not solely on scheduling strategy.
Widely uneven arrivals, even at the same input level, result in longer queues compared to even arrivals.
Scheduling male donors first can optimize time due to their shorter average phlebotomy processing times.
Nursing utilization is highest when donor arrival rates are near system capacity.

Conclusions:

System capacity management is crucial for preventing excessive donor queues.
Optimizing donor flow involves balancing arrival rates and considering demographic-specific processing times.
Further techniques may exist to mitigate queueing issues during high-demand periods.