Estimating optimal resource capacities in emergency department

This study discussed the computer simulation model development for Green Zone (GZ) of an Emergency Department (ED) using discrete event simulation approach. Due to the delay in getting treatment that contributed to patients overcrowds issue and long waiting time, the ED management needs a tool that can be used to analyze the current operation and understand their resource capacities to improve the services’ quality. Any imprecise decision made to overcome this problem may lead to a more serious problem towards the future. The developed simulation model was used to test an increase in level of demands and how it will affect the performance of GZ. The computer simulation model development is based on 24 hours collected data for a month period. The results from the simulation runs are evaluated and discussed with the ED management for possible areas of improvements. The OptQuest functionality in Arena software was used to find the optimal number of resources required based on demands. The improvement model is developed based on the results of the optimization process and its conclusive findings show the enhanced model significantly improves ED's performance in term of the total average patients’ waiting time and the utilization rate of staffs.