Merging six emergency departments into one: A simulation approach

Abstract

Simulation of existing systems can reinforce a Subject Matter Expert's gut feelings. However, it is more difficult to develop intuition for proposed systems, particularly when considering the consolidation of multiple systems. This paper discusses the use of simulation to determine the operational ramifications of combining six Emergency Departments into one of the largest in the country. Each of these six existing Emergency Departments serve a different type of patient population and each maintains their own independent processes. This hospital required all Emergency Departments to effectively function using the same floor space, processes and ancillary services, such as testing facilities, waiting rooms, and registration. Healthcare planners need to understand the ramifications of sharing resources among multiple departments and the operational impact of high volume systems. This project explored these challenges to find key bottlenecks and mitigation strategies using simulation.