Using simulation to reduce length of stay in emergency departments.
A growing number of hospitals are using health care-specific simulation technology to help identify process improvements, particularly when there are a number of alternatives under consideration. New software is now available which specifically meets the unique needs of health care. This paper describes how a team at one Emergency Services department in a SunHealth alliance hospital used simulation technology to test alternatives and choose a solution to significantly reduce the length of stay for patients in the Emergency Department.
McGuire
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D000465:Algorithms; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D012985:Software Design; D015144:Southeastern United States; D017748:Time Management; D014850:Waiting Lists; D000078329:Workforce