Title

A Hybrid Modeling And Simulation Methodology For Formulating Overbooking Policies

Keywords

Appointment schedule; Discrete-event simulation; Overbooking; System dynamics modeling

Abstract

System dynamics modeling and discrete-event simulation have been applied in the health care industry in system improvement initiatives. Although each has its strengths and weaknesses, few studies have demonstrated how these two approaches could be brought together to improve the quality of health delivery. In this paper, a feedback-based hybrid modeling and simulation methodology has been developed, one that uses a system dynamics model for policy making and a discrete-event model for day-to-day clinic operations. This method is applied to support the formulation of overbooking policies in an Orthopedic clinic to achieve the strategic goal of a maximum appointment delay of 30 days. First, the system dynamics model is run to identify the best overall overbooking policy, which is then fed into the discrete-even model to evaluate its impact on day-to-day operations in terms of the patients' time in system. In this way, the policies developed by this hybrid modeling and simulation method address both the strategic (long-term) as well operational (short-term) goals of a clinic. Additionally, the approach also demonstrates that though overbooking is a commonly practiced to mitigate the negative effects of no-shows, it also can be an effective intervention strategy to reduce appointment delays.

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Publication Title

IIE Annual Conference and Expo 2013

Number of Pages

1358-1366

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

84900305091 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84900305091

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS