Health Care Evaluation Using Computer Simulation: Concepts, Methods, and Applications

The purpose of this book is to place computer simulation studies within the paradigm of intervention research that is concerned with comparing the outcomes of health care delivered under different policies. This book presents computer simulation as a tool for testing various policy alternatives that have been developed by decision-makers within health care systems. This approach differs from the use of computer simulation in operations research, where simulation helps determine the configurations of a system that will allow it to function optimally.  Although simulation of health care processes is not new, few health care systems have used simulations as a basis for re-engineering the delivery of health services. There is growing appreciation that the complexity of health care processes exceeds the capacity of individual disciplines–health services research, health economics, or operations research–to guide health care reform. In this book, the authors focus on bringing the methodological rigor of evaluative research to the design and analysis of such simulation studies. The book is intended as a reference for health services researchers. It offers a comprehensive description of the methodology of conducting simulation studies in evaluation of service alternatives in surgical care using discrete-event models, including the steps for identifying the clinical and managerial activities of the perioperative process, determining the model requirements, implementing simulation models, designing simulation experiments and analyzing the experimental data, and interpreting and reporting results. The book also offers examples of specific aspects of conducting simulation experiments: how to determine the number of runs needed to estimate the effect of implementing a health care policy; how to allocate the number of runs to study groups in simulation experiments aiming to evaluate policy or management alternatives; and how to use statistical analysis toestimate, interpret, and report effect sizes.

Boris Sobolev · Victor Sanchez · Lisa Kuramoto

Health Care Evaluation Using Computer Simulation

Concepts, Methods, and Applications

Over the past decades, health services research has informed policy for improving health care delivery. Computer simulations have great potential to drive full scale improvement, yet the technology has rarely been used to evaluate proposed changes before they are implemented in health care systems.

Health Care Evaluation Using Computer Simulation describes a new interdisciplinary approach, one that incorporates the simulation of health system operations into the paradigm of health services research. Beginning by reviewing the processes of health care evaluation and simulation experiments, the book presents a complete methodology for conducting simulation studies for evaluating policy alternatives. Unified Modeling Language and Statechart diagramming are introduced as a means for developing realistic requirements of discrete-event models and policies. And to clearly illustrate simulation modeling in context, an extended series of examples illustrates the use of simulations throughout a single department in a busy hospital.

Chapters take the reader through each step of the methodology, featuring:

• A comparison of approaches to constructing simulation models of health care systems.

• An overview geared toward developing research questions.

• A framework for determining model requirements and designing simulations.

• Methods for evaluating simulation experiments at the cluster and individual levels.

• Guidelines for clear reporting of simulation studies.

• Examples of computer simulation in surgical services, from appointment booking to discharge planning.

As a research reference and a hands-on blueprint, Health Care Evaluation Using Computer Simulation breaks innovative new ground for researchers and graduate students in health services research and health care management.

Over the past decades, health services research has informed policy for improving health care delivery. Computer simulations have great potential to drive full scale improvement, yet the technology has rarely been used to evaluate proposed changes before they are implemented in health care systems.

Health Care Evaluation Using Computer Simulation describes a new interdisciplinary approach, one that incorporates the simulation of health system operations into the paradigm of health services research. Beginning by reviewing the processes of health care evaluation and simulation experiments, the book presents a complete methodology for conducting simulation studies for evaluating policy alternatives. Unified Modeling Language and Statechart diagramming are introduced as a means for developing realistic requirements of discrete-event models and policies. And to clearly illustrate simulation modeling in context, an extended series of examples illustrates the use of simulations throughout a single department in a busy hospital.

Chapters take the reader through each step of the methodology, featuring:

• A comparison of approaches to constructing simulation models of health care systems.

• Anoverview geared toward developing research questions.

• A framework for determining model requirements and designing simulations.

• Methods for evaluating simulation experiments at the cluster and individual levels.

• Guidelines for clear reporting of simulation studies.

• Examples of computer simulation in surgical services, from appointment booking to discharge planning.

As a research reference and a hands-on blueprint, Health Care Evaluation Using Computer Simulation breaks innovative new ground for researchers and graduate students in health services research and health care management.