ORAHS2024
Abstract Submission

209. Analysis of the Influence of Physician Heterogeneity on Emergency Department Performance Measures

Contributed abstract in session MD-5: Emergency Department /1, stream Regular talks.

Monday, 13:50-15:00
Room: Room S6

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Fermin Mallor
Institute of Smart Cities, Public University of Navarre
2. Miguel Baigorri
Statistics, informatics and Mathematics, Public University of Navarra
3. Marta Cildoz
Institute of Smart Cities, Public University of Navarre

Abstract

Healthcare services, such as emergency departments, operate as queueing models where patients are customers and healthcare staff are servers. Analysis of these systems is commonly conducted using simulation models due to their ability to capture complexity compared to other approaches based on queueing theory or differential equation systems. Simulation models emphasize detailed patient representation, categorizing them based on personal characteristics, illness, diagnostic tests, etc., but often overlook potential heterogeneity in medical practice. In this work, we demonstrate the significance of physician heterogeneity in shaping key performance indicators (KPIs) in hospital emergency departments. Our analysis highlights the need to enrich discrete event simulation models with agent-based models that capture medical staff differences in providing care and their response to changing workload conditions in emergency services. Specifically, we propose an agent-based model for physicians where patient care time depends on current workload and accumulated fatigue during the shift.

Keywords

Status: accepted


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