Title: Workflow estimation of a radiology department using modelling and simulation

Authors: Felicitas Idigo; Victor Idigo; Kenneth Agwu; Obinna Onwujekwe; Mark Okeji; Angel-Mary Anakwue; Uloma Nwogu

Addresses: Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria ' Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State Nigeria ' Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria ' Department of Health Administration and Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria ' Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria ' Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria ' Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria

Abstract: Service delay has remained a persistent problem in the radiology departments of most Nigerian tertiary hospitals. This impact negatively on system efficiency and productivity, resource utilisation, and patient access to care. This work was designed to measure, analyse and forecast the workflow process in a radiology department using modelling and simulation. A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary hospital radiology department on randomly selected 768 adult ambulant patients that underwent routine radiographic investigations. Arrival time, service time and waiting time were measured for each patient and MATLAB Simulink was used to model and simulate the workflow process. The probability of n arrival is inversely related to the arrival rate. System utilisation increases with increase of the arrival rate and generally decreases with increase in the number of servers and mean service rate. The probability of the number of delays decreases at higher utilisation rates. A software program called 'MATLAB Estimator' was developed which showcases output parameters once the input parameters are known. Operations planning and control process can be enhanced by radiology service managers using forecasts of system demands which will enable work process improvement.

Keywords: patient flow process; system utilisation; modelling and simulation; radiology department; MATLAB Estimator.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAOM.2020.108261

International Journal of Advanced Operations Management, 2020 Vol.12 No.2, pp.122 - 141

Accepted: 26 Oct 2019
Published online: 07 Jul 2020 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article