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Levelling bed occupancy: reconfiguring surgery schedules via simulation

Kenneth Yip (Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
Louisa Leung (Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
Deacons Yeung (Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance

ISSN: 0952-6862

Article publication date: 13 August 2018

304

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present simulation modelling to reconfigure a 700-bed Hong Kong hospital’s master surgery schedule (MSS), aiming to improve patient flow, capacity management and resource allocation through levelling bed occupancy within the hospital.

Design/methodology/approach

A discrete-event simulation model was developed to understand how changes to the MSS would affect bed occupancy, thereby providing business intelligence for short- and long-term hospital planning. A decision tool was subsequently developed for hospital managers to test different scenarios.

Findings

Simulation modelling showed that significant bed occupancy levelling could be achieved through small and practicable changes to the MSS. Optimisation routines conducted using the simulation model then gave additional insights into how the schedule should be revamped for the long term.

Practical implications

The authors show how operations research methods are useful for guiding hospital operational planning. The authors show that a data-driven and evidence-based model enables hospital managers to critically explore various scheduling changes, while also providing a scientific common ground for discussion among important stakeholders. It is a crucial step forward when adopting advanced analytics for Hong Kong hospital operational planning.

Originality/value

The authors provide a robust method for evaluating the relationship between Hong Kong hospital’s MSS and its bed occupancy. Through simulating various changes to the surgical schedule, valuable and practicable insights were made available for hospital managers to make short- and longer-term changes that enhance the system’s overall efficiency and service quality.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to: Maria Tang and Gloria Lau for their advice and support; theatre staff for their advice on managing, planning and running operating theatres; and to Alvin Chan for providing his helpful analytical insights throughout the study.

Citation

Yip, K., Leung, L. and Yeung, D. (2018), "Levelling bed occupancy: reconfiguring surgery schedules via simulation", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 31 No. 7, pp. 864-876. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-12-2017-0237

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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