Article: A decision support tool, implemented in a system dynamics model, to improve the effectiveness in the hospital emergency department Journal: International Journal of Procurement Management (IJPM) 2015 Vol.8 No.1/2 pp.141 - 168 Abstract: The emergency department of a hospital is, among all areas in which lean policies are focused, the one that has received the most attention. The emergency room, in fact, plays a vital role in providing primary care to patients and is also recognised for the contribution it gives to society. The important results in terms of cost savings and improving the flow due to the reduction of the waiting time of the patients, obtained from major international hospitals, were crucial to assess whether it was possible and useful to implement similar improvements in Italy, certainly not without to many problems in the provision of health services. This paper explores what can be improved for the department to be more efficient, using simulation techniques based on dynamic and continuous logics (system dynamics). Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: A decision support tool, implemented in a system dynamics model, to improve the effectiveness in the hospital emergency department

Authors: Elpidio Romano; Guido Guizzi; Daniela Chiocca

Addresses: Department of Chemical, Materials Engineering and Operations Management, University of Naples Federico II, Corso Umberto I, 40, 80138, Napoli, Italy ' Department of Chemical, Materials Engineering and Operations Management, University of Naples Federico II, Corso Umberto I, 40, 80138, Napoli, Italy ' Department of Chemical, Materials Engineering and Operations Management, University of Naples Federico II, Corso Umberto I, 40, 80138, Napoli, Italy

Abstract: The emergency department of a hospital is, among all areas in which lean policies are focused, the one that has received the most attention. The emergency room, in fact, plays a vital role in providing primary care to patients and is also recognised for the contribution it gives to society. The important results in terms of cost savings and improving the flow due to the reduction of the waiting time of the patients, obtained from major international hospitals, were crucial to assess whether it was possible and useful to implement similar improvements in Italy, certainly not without to many problems in the provision of health services. This paper explores what can be improved for the department to be more efficient, using simulation techniques based on dynamic and continuous logics (system dynamics).

Keywords: system dynamics; simulation; lean healthcare; emergency efficiency; causal loop diagrams; hospitals; health sector; healthcare industry; hospital emergency departments; decision support tools; emergency rooms; primary care; patient care; costs; cost savings; waiting times; patient flow; Italy; continuous logistics; modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2015.066291

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2015 Vol.8 No.1/2, pp.141 - 168

Published online: 24 Jan 2015 *

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Title: A decision support tool, implemented in a system dynamics model, to improve the effectiveness in the hospital emergency department

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