Simulation in Healthcare Management
Content
Simulation in healthcare management :a soft approach (MAPIU)
By:
Dean Jerry Dias Nikhil Agrawal Manoj Kumar Garg Ratan Raj Anil Krishnan (09IM3003) (09IM1029) (09IM1007) (09IM1013) (09IM3004)
Introduction
A modelling approach proposed in this paper to enhance an understanding and communication between stakeholders or decision makers. The paper looks at the nature of healthcare systems and discusses why a waterfall engineering-based modelling technique may not be the most appropriate approach when tackling problems in healthcare or, indeed, in most fast-changing businesses. Understanding and communication between the various stakeholders is potentially problematic.
Why Simulation?
Simulation can be used for dynamic analysis of the situation, thus presenting stakeholders with a more realistic picture of the situation. Healthcare systems are often complex in that they involve multiple decision-makers. In simulation, assumptions are independent of the model and can be switched on or off at any time or re-scaled in a probabilistic fashion. It helps users to make a systematic examination of their assumptions rather than be driven by them in building the model and solving the problem.
Problem description
Objectives: conversation between the model and the stakeholders
enhance the communication between the different stakeholders involved
Fig: Proposed modelling process
Modelling Approach
Initialisation Processing Modelling Communication Information
MAPIU Overall structure
Application: Finding an optimum strategy for selecting patients in the waiting list for liver transplantation
Inputs:
Stakeholders involved:
Age Waiting time Level of sickness
Output:
Clinicians Health economists (Health economists may look at the cost-effectiveness of the process, while clinicians may consider that provision of care to all patients is more important) Average cost effectiveness ratios Understanding the priority issues with respect to allocation of livers
Drawbacks
The application of simulation modelling in the healthcare sector is not widespread when compared to other sectors such as military, manufacturing and logistics. In healthcare systems the data which exists is not reliable enough to qualify as the driving force of the model.
There are two main reasons that healthcare data are unreliable. Data have to be collected from records that go well back in history. This type of data will not be reliable because of the changes that may occur in medical technology, policies, and socio-economic values. Data collectors who are themselves closely involved in the activity may perhaps spark some anxiety from professionals, to the extent that they may provide less than accurate data.
By:
Dean Jerry Dias Nikhil Agrawal Manoj Kumar Garg Ratan Raj Anil Krishnan (09IM3003) (09IM1029) (09IM1007) (09IM1013) (09IM3004)
Introduction
A modelling approach proposed in this paper to enhance an understanding and communication between stakeholders or decision makers. The paper looks at the nature of healthcare systems and discusses why a waterfall engineering-based modelling technique may not be the most appropriate approach when tackling problems in healthcare or, indeed, in most fast-changing businesses. Understanding and communication between the various stakeholders is potentially problematic.
Why Simulation?
Simulation can be used for dynamic analysis of the situation, thus presenting stakeholders with a more realistic picture of the situation. Healthcare systems are often complex in that they involve multiple decision-makers. In simulation, assumptions are independent of the model and can be switched on or off at any time or re-scaled in a probabilistic fashion. It helps users to make a systematic examination of their assumptions rather than be driven by them in building the model and solving the problem.
Problem description
Objectives: conversation between the model and the stakeholders
enhance the communication between the different stakeholders involved
Fig: Proposed modelling process
Modelling Approach
Initialisation Processing Modelling Communication Information
MAPIU Overall structure
Application: Finding an optimum strategy for selecting patients in the waiting list for liver transplantation
Inputs:
Stakeholders involved:
Age Waiting time Level of sickness
Output:
Clinicians Health economists (Health economists may look at the cost-effectiveness of the process, while clinicians may consider that provision of care to all patients is more important) Average cost effectiveness ratios Understanding the priority issues with respect to allocation of livers
Drawbacks
The application of simulation modelling in the healthcare sector is not widespread when compared to other sectors such as military, manufacturing and logistics. In healthcare systems the data which exists is not reliable enough to qualify as the driving force of the model.
There are two main reasons that healthcare data are unreliable. Data have to be collected from records that go well back in history. This type of data will not be reliable because of the changes that may occur in medical technology, policies, and socio-economic values. Data collectors who are themselves closely involved in the activity may perhaps spark some anxiety from professionals, to the extent that they may provide less than accurate data.
