Title: Simulation of cutting corners chain in healthcare services

Authors: Ali Alizadeh-Zoeram; Alireza Pooya; Zahra Naji-Azimi; Ali Vafaee-Najar

Addresses: Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Mashhad, Iran ' Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Mashhad, Iran ' Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Mashhad, Iran ' School of Health, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Health Economics and Management, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUM), Mashhad, Iran

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to simulate the cutting corners chain as a criterion in controlling the quality control of health services. These services are in a healthcare chain based on human resources (HR). This chain study included three clinics in a specialised hospital, whose doctors were considered as service providers. In this study, system dynamics (SD) approach is used for simulation. After modelling and formulating the problem, the validation of the designed model was confirmed and based on the simulation results; appropriate policies to match supply and demand were established. Also methods to cope with cutting corners chain were identified in a dynamic environment. They are based on sensitivity analysis, changes in patient arrival rates and human resources service capacity. The designed model with some slight changes could be used in hospital management in the field of human resources management, with a dynamic and systemic thinking, either as a unit or as a healthcare service chain.

Keywords: cutting corners; human resources; service capacity; simulation; system dynamics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2022.122669

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2022 Vol.41 No.3, pp.260 - 278

Received: 14 Jan 2019
Accepted: 17 Aug 2019
Published online: 05 May 2022 *

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