Hospital and Clinic Management

Simulation is often used to dynamically model process flow through clinical operations. Simulation is particularly helpful to identify bottlenecks and capacity requirements. The following areas outline in more depth how simulation can be used in key clinical operation areas and includes case studies to show how this works in practice.

Using Simulation in your Lean Projects

Process simulation is very powerful when included as part of an improvement project, particularly with complex environments such as an OR or ED. SIMUL8 enhances the ability to understand interdependencies, predict outcomes with a high degree of reliability, and test many scenarios prior to implementation.

At the start of every Lean or Six Sigma project, you establish a project charter and set a measurable goal for improvement. But how do you know what the right target is? Does it matter if the project improves performance by 30%? 50%? Simulation can answer this question by determining what performance level is necessary in order for the process will achieve capability.

Simulation can be a stand-alone project, with goals such as identifying bottlenecks, testing schedules and staffing models, or modifying existing processes.

SIMUL8 has also designed in several features to make it easy for LEAN and Six Sigma practitioners to integrate simulation into their existing improvement routine.

In healthcare, modifying any process – from staffing ratios to O.R. schedules – affects more than just cost and convenience. It directly impacts the health and wellbeing of every patient.

Simulation helps your team make decisions based on evidence. Reduce costs, improve quality outcomes, and increase patient access – by making improvements that are tested in a simulated environment, prior to implementation.

Uses of Simulation

Simulation can be used to aid decision making in many areas of Hospital and Clinic Management to help identify bottlenecks and capacity requirements in key clinical operation areas.

Operating and Procedure Rooms

Simulation can be used to show how intelligent utilization of Operating Rooms, and proper management of the patient flow ultimately improves patient outcomes.

Emergency Department

Simulation can help an improvement team to understand the impacts of a change on waiting times, throughput, costs, and other important measures.

Inpatient Care

Simulation can be used to model inpatient care and ensure that all key objectives are met.

Outpatient Clinics

Simulation can be used to test methods to improve patient visit efficiency without affecting the daily running of a clinic.

Bed Management

Manage variability in arrivals and lengths of stay to ensure that patients are able to access the right inpatient unit for their condition.