Title: Analysing the performance of emergency department by simulation: the case of Sirjan Hospital

Authors: Zahra Sepehri; S. Mohammad Arabzad; Seyed Mojtaba Sajadi

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, 8514143131, Isfahan, Iran ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, 8199657581, Iran ' Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Receiving care services to have a healthy society is one of the fundamental needs of human beings. Emergency departments are kinds of institutions that have the responsibility to offer professional services and medical emergency to the patients. Many simulation studies available in hospitals and at first in the emergency departments have been performed to increase the productivity. This survey attempts to reduce patients waiting times and improve the care quality. The study population included all patients referred to emergency department in a public hospital. All necessary data were gathered interviewing the staff and through registering the observations. Simulation model was designed using Arena software. The results have shown that the most waiting time was related to reception and triage sections. The simulation and testing two scenarios led to add two nurses, one triage nurse and also a reception employee intending to decrease the waiting time and patient stay.

Keywords: public hospitals; emergency departments; triage priority; simulation; ARENA; performance evaluation; patients waiting times; care quality; emergency healthcare; patient stay.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2015.067769

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2015 Vol.20 No.3, pp.289 - 301

Published online: 18 Apr 2015 *

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