Simulation is a great approach to complex problem-solving in areas like Healthcare. But, too often, a factory-style approach is force fit into what is in reality a very different scenario. We believe in "Patient Track" modeling --- patients are not boxes to be shuffled along conveyors. They have distinct paths through the hospital/clinic based on morbidity, severity... a host of factors. They are intelligent and autonomous. And, oh yeah, they don't *like* to be treated like a box on a conveyor. Healthcare simulation is more about effectiveness than efficiency. And it needs to focus on the patient.

1. Healthcare System
Simulation
Why it’s Vital to Solid Process Design

2. Many Healthcare areas could really
use a performance booster
• Emergency Department Analysis
• Healthcare Policy Analysis
• Multisite Health System Flow
• Quality Control / Patient Safety
• First Responder Response
• Patient Flow Analysis
• Facility Layout Planning
• Resource Utilization
• Average Length of Stay
• Claims Backlog Analysis
• Scheduling Analysis

3. And the Affordable Care Act
(ACA) has added urgency…
!
So how should hospital and clinic
decision makers best evaluate their
current systems and future plans?

4. What approach should you use?
Consultant
Six Sigma
Benchmarking
Committee
Experts are sometimes great…sometimes,
not so much. Always expensive. Often
disruptive.
Takes too long and is too risky, especially
in a culture not used to detailed analytics,
measurement, and constant redesigning.
Can provide useful info, but 90% will not
be germane to your situation. Typically
only sets goals; leaving you to get there
on your own.
Yeah, but after designing the camel what
have they done for us lately?

5. We need a tool or method that:
Helps us develop scientifically-based
solutions ourselves, without outside process
experts that we have to train about our hospital,
policy, or systems.
1
Will be accepted by all our stakeholders,
both the technical and the practical. And
communicates ideas and results extremely well
for management as well as direct contributors.
2
Allows us to test many variations, to run
experiments, and to find optimizations… all
without undo disruption to our critical
operations
3

6. The Answer is Healthcare
System Simulation…

7. Simulation…
… is an easy-to-use analysis
tool to visualize current
practices and analyze
process & policy changes.
… lets you prototype
your concepts; in a
realistic, cost effective,
virtual environment.

8. Hospitals are not Factories!
I see patients backing up on
line 5. Route the less urgent
cases to line 7 to improve
patient flow.
Line 7 is down for maintenance.
I’ll have the acute care forklift
move the patient load to line 8
instead.
But
Guess
What?

9. Healthcare Systems Simulation has
Unique Analysis Requirements
In manufacturing, achieving profitability =
reducing process variance.
!
But healthcare’s focus is more on
effectiveness than efficiency.

10. !
Healthcare is the only process whose components and
recipients of service contribute as much to its
inefficiency as do its members and methods.
!
We can demo how Patient Track thinking creates more
effective healthcare models.
FlexSim is built around the
“Patient Track” - people are
modeled as people, not boxes.

11. Complexity and why it matters
• Bounded Rationality
• Computational Complexity
• Multiple dimensions of capacity
• Multiple dimensions of quality
• Levels of resolution
• Variety of Decision Variables
Hospitals are the Soul of
Complexity

12. • Limitless alternatives
• Accurate approximation of reality
• Blue print + What If + Predictor
• Visually compelling
• Capable of handling both
qualitative and quantitative factors
• Establishes a timeless comparative
base
Simulation Cuts Complexity

13. FlexSim
Offering the most modern, patient-
centric simulation software.
• Specializing in Industrial, Service and Healthcare Operations since 1993
• Dedicated Development & Research, Training and Consulting Offices
• Consistently ranked #1 in Client Support and Software Development
• www.flexsim.com for a free trial download or call 908-235-3895