title: Using Simulation to Model Improvements in Pediatric Bed Placement in an Acute Care Hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this project was to use an interdisciplinary approach to analyze strategies through simulation technology for improving patient flow in a pediatric hospital.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Various statistics have been offered on the number of children admitted annually to hospitals. For administrators, particularly in smaller systems, the financial burden of equipping and staffing pediatric units often outweighs the moral desire to maintain a pediatric unit as a viable option for patients and pediatricians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Discrete event simulation was used to model current operations of a pediatric unit. Cost analysis was conducted using simulation reflecting various percentages of patients being referred to a discharge holding area (DHA) upon discharge and of the use of all private rooms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both DHA and private rooms resulted in increased patient volumes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administrators should consider the use of a DHA and/or private rooms to ease the census strains of pediatric units and the resultant revenue of this service.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Professor Emerita, School of Nursing, University of San Francisco (Dr Lambton); and Associate Professor (Dr Roeder) and Professor (Dr Saltzman), Department of Decision Sciences, San Francisco State University, California; and Magnet Coordinator, Center for Professional Development and Practice Children's Minnesota (Ms Param), and Chief Nursing Officer (Ms Fernandes), Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambton
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roeder
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saltzman
authors.forename: Lila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Param
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058996:Quality Improvement