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An Optimization based on Simulation Approach to the Patient Admission Scheduling Problem: Diagnostic Imaging Department Case Study

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Abstract

The growing influx of patients in healthcare providers is the result of an aging population and emerging self-consciousness about health. In order to guarantee the welfare of all the healthcare stakeholders, it is mandatory to implement methodologies that optimize the healthcare providers' efficiency while increasing patient throughput and reducing patient's total waiting time. This paper presents a case study of a conventional radiology workflow analysis in a Portuguese healthcare provider. Modeling tools were applied to define the existing workflow. Re-engineered workflows were analyzed using the developed simulation tool. The integration of modeling and simulation tools allowed the identification of system bottlenecks. The new workflow of an imaging department entails a reduction of 41 % of the total completion time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LEPAE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Roberto Frias S/N, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Conceição Granja & Adélio Mendes

  2. Siemens S.A. Healthcare Sector, Avenida Mário Brito 3570, 4460-901, Perafita, Portugal

    Conceição Granja, Filipe Janela & João Seabra

  3. INESC-TEC, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Bernardo Almada-Lobo

Authors
  1. Conceição Granja
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  2. Bernardo Almada-Lobo
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  3. Filipe Janela
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  4. João Seabra
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  5. Adélio Mendes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adélio Mendes.

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Granja, C., Almada-Lobo, B., Janela, F. et al. An Optimization based on Simulation Approach to the Patient Admission Scheduling Problem: Diagnostic Imaging Department Case Study. J Digit Imaging 27, 33–40 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-013-9626-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-013-9626-3

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