The GPSS Simulation of Scheduling Policies for Surgical Patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine and evaluate utilization levels of the operating-room and recovery-room facilities of a hospital under different policy considerations governing patient flows. The utilization rates are examined under constraints that apply to the particular hospital from which the empirical data was obtained; however, the model and approach were designed with general applications in mind. The range of values for critical timing measurements is obtained from a model employing the Monte Carlo simulation technique. The model is programmed in GPSS and was run on an IBM 360/165. An optimal policy that satisfies the “real world” constraints of an active hospital is sought. The output from the model is interpreted. It is revealed that increases in facility utilization can be made while meeting the constraints dictated by normal hospital routine, thus offering the possibility of reducing costs.