Health Care Management Science

, Volume 16, Issue 4, pp 314–327 | Cite as

Recovery bed planning in cardiovascular surgery: a simulation case study

  • Yariv N. Marmor
  • Thomas R. Rohleder
  • David J. Cook
  • Todd R. Huschka
  • Jeffrey E. Thompson
Article
First Online:
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Accepted:

Abstract

Recovery beds for cardiovascular surgical patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and progressive care unit (PCU) are costly hospital resources that require effective management. This case study reports on the development and use of a discrete-event simulation model used to predict minimum bed needs to achieve the high patient service level demanded at Mayo Clinic. In addition to bed predictions that incorporate surgery growth and new recovery protocols, the model was used to explore the effects of smoothing surgery schedules and transferring long-stay patients from the ICU. The model projected bed needs that were 30 % lower than the traditional bed-planning approach and the options explored by the practice could substantially reduce the number of beds required.

Keywords

Hospital bed planning Case study Simulation Intensive care unit 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Yariv N. Marmor
    • 1
  • Thomas R. Rohleder
    • 1
  • David J. Cook
    • 2
  • Todd R. Huschka
    • 1
  • Jeffrey E. Thompson
    • 3
  1. 1.Mayo Clinic, Department of Health Sciences ResearchCenter for the Science of Health Care DeliveryRochesterUSA
  2. 2.Mayo Clinic, Department of AnesthesiologyRochesterUSA
  3. 3.Mayo Clinic, Department of Systems and ProceduresRochesterUSA

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