BUILDING A FLEXIBLE SIMULATION MODEL FOR MODELING MULTIPLE OUTPATIENT ORTHOPEDIC CLINICS

摘要

Often large health care organizations will have multiple satellite clinics in addition to the primary flagship location. The value of having multiple clinics includes the ability to better serve patients by improving accessibility while also increasing efficiencies from common structures and policies. Unlike most simulation models of health care clinics, which are uniquely designed for one specific location and are not easily adapted without significant effort, we develop one flexible discrete-event simulation model to represent two orthopedic centers. In addition to demonstrating the validity of employing the same model for two clinics, a graphical user interface is constructed to enable the clinic managers to modify simulation parameters, minimizing the need for future model adaptations. The value of the simulation model is verified by evaluating the effects of new policies impacting the role of mid-level providers and results show that the best policy for improving timeliness of care varies among clinics.