Title: Applying a fuzzy logic methodology to waiting list management at a hospital emergency unit: a case study

Authors: Javier Puente, Alberto Gomez, Jose Parreno, David de la Fuente

Addresses: Dpto. Administracion de Empresas y Contabilidad, Escuela Politecnica Superior de Ingenieria, Campus de Viesques, s/n., 33204 Gijon, Spain. ' Dpto. Administracion de Empresas y Contabilidad, Escuela Politecnica Superior de Ingenieria, Campus de Viesques, s/n., 33204 Gijon, Spain. ' Dpto. Administracion de Empresas y Contabilidad, Escuela Politecnica Superior de Ingenieria, Campus de Viesques, s/n., 33204 Gijon, Spain. ' Dpto. Administracion de Empresas y Contabilidad, Escuela Politecnica Superior de Ingenieria, Campus de Viesques, s/n., 33204 Gijon, Spain

Abstract: This paper studies care provision at hospital emergency departments. It begins with a traditional approach, based on queuing theory and simulation models, and then applies a fuzzy approach to the system so as to analyse the certainty levels provided by the key parameters of the system. A real (practical) case that occurred at an emergency department is analysed using both methods. Finally, the comparative results between the traditional model and the proposed one are shown.

Keywords: hospital management; queuing theory; simulation models; emergencies; fuzzy logic; accident and emergency departments; healthcare.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2003.004241

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2003 Vol.5 No.6, pp.432 - 442

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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