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Using simulation in out‐patient queues: a case study

Fenghueih Huarng (National Chung Cheng University, Chia‐Yi, Taiwan)
Mong Hou Lee (National Chung Cheng University, Chia‐Yi, Taiwan)

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance

ISSN: 0952-6862

Article publication date: 1 November 1996

1805

Abstract

Overwork and overcrowding in some periods was an important issue for the out‐patient department of a local hospital in Chia‐Yi in Taiwan. The hospital administrators wanted to manage the patient flow effectively. Describes a study which focused on the utilization of doctors and staff in the out‐patient department, the time spent in the hospital by an out‐patient, and the length of the out‐patient queue. Explains how a computer simulation model was developed to study how changes in the appointment system, staffing policies and service units would affect the observed bottleneck. The results show that the waiting time was greatly reduced and the workload of the doctor was also reduced to a reasonable rate in the overwork and overcrowding periods.

Keywords

Citation

Huarng, F. and Hou Lee, M. (1996), "Using simulation in out‐patient queues: a case study", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 9 No. 6, pp. 21-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/09526869610128232

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 1996, MCB UP Limited

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