title: Capacity of clinical pathways--a strategic multi-level evaluation tool.
abstract: In this paper we strategically evaluate the efficiency of clinical pathways and their complex interdependencies with respect to joint resource usage and patient throughput. We propose a discrete-event simulation approach that allows for the simultaneous evaluation of multiple clinical pathways and the inherent uncertainty (resource, duration and arrival) that accompanies medical processes. Both the consultation suite and the surgery suite may be modeled and examined in detail by means of sensitivity or scenario analyses. Since each medical facility can somehow be represented as a combination of clinical pathways, i.e. they are conceptually similar, the simulation model is generic in nature. Next to the formulation of the model, we illustrate its applicability by means of a case study that was conducted in a Belgian hospital.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Business and Economics, Department of Decision Sciences and Information Management, Research Center for Operations Management, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. brecht.cardoen@econ.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Brecht
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cardoen
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demeulemeester
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009819:Office Visits; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014850:Waiting Lists