Queue Management by Simulation Modeling: a Case Study of Aga Khan University Hospital

Abstract

Using computer simulation, a model of Accident and Emergency care process in a hospital was developed and the effect of some proposed changes to improve patient throughput times studied. The project was based upon a case study conducted at the hospital and historical (secondary data) from the hospital records were used to simulate the accident and emergency process. ARENA simulation software was used to run the model. The simulation results demonstrate that some proposed changes can shorten patient throughput times in the emergency care process. The proposed changes involve adding one more doctor to man an extra consultation room. The simulation results show that computer simulation can be an effective decision support tool in modeling hospital emergency care process and evaluating the effects of changes in the process. The results would be useful to the hospital management who are considering improving the service delivery through reducing the patient throughput time