Title: Streamlining physician peer review process and capacity prediction using simulation

Authors: Hyunsoo Lee, Josie R. Williams, Kathy K. Mechler, Tracy L. Adams, Kim Clay, Tammy L. Wilemon, Robert Morrow, Amarnath Banerjee

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Texas A&M University, 3131 TAMUS, College Station, TX 77843-3131, USA. ' Rural and Community Health Institute, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77802-4016, USA. ' Rural and Community Health Institute, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77802-4016, USA. ' Rural and Community Health Institute, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77802-4016, USA. ' Rural and Community Health Institute, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77802-4016, USA. ' Rural and Community Health Institute, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77802-4016, USA. ' Rural and Community Health Institute, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77802-4016, USA. ' Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Texas A&M University, 3131 TAMUS, College Station, TX 77843-3131, USA

Abstract: This paper provides insight into the use of simulation-based method to streamline the process of conducting a virtual medical peer review programme. The Rural Community and Health Institute (RCHI), a component of the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, has developed an effective virtual physician peer review programme that removes bias and promotes education. This programme targets predominantly rural areas spread over a large geographic area. While this methodology is effective in promoting the ability to conduct effective distance physician peer review, the success of the programme creates the programme management challenging issues. This paper describes how these limitations were addressed by streamlining the peer review record management process utilising a simulation based approach by identifying bottlenecks in the process, streamlining the process, eliminating redundant process steps, and enhancing some of the processes with additional automation.

Keywords: rural communities; physicians; doctors; simulation; modelling; analysis; automation; bottlenecks; service quality; streamlining; capacity prediction; virtual peer reviews; medical peer reviews; Rural Community and Health Institute; RCHI; Texas A&M University; USA; United States; health science; bias; distance peer reviews; programme management; redundant processes; medical education; collaborative enterprises; collaboration; healthcare systems; systems engineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCENT.2010.038354

International Journal of Collaborative Enterprise, 2010 Vol.1 No.3/4, pp.273 - 292

Published online: 01 Feb 2011 *

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