Developing a computer simulation model for patient flow in health care system: access to coronary revascularization

In response to unprecedented pressure, the health care system has and continues to restructure systems of core delivery to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness. While this points to the need for research to assess the effects of reorganization, there is a lack of such research, partly because analyzing the flow of patients through the health care system can be extremely complex. In previous research, Dr. Christos Vasilakis developed a computer simulation model capable of evaluating the interactions between the different streams of patient flow in a hospital department. This simulation model was also used to test an alternative hypothesis of the causes of hospital bed crises in England. Now he is developing a computer simulation model to evaluate the effects of proposed organizational changes at BC cardiac care centres that will affect patient access to revascularization procedures, which are used to improve blood flow to the heart. Hospital managers could use the completed model as a tool to manage patient access. Policy-makers could use the model to assess the impact of other proposed changes to the health care system to better inform how these changes should be made.