A Simulation Case Study Of Patient Flow At The University Of South Alabama Medical Center

Summary form only given. The University of South Alabama Medical Center is a trauma hospital that serves Mobile, Alabama. Delays in the patient discharge process were preventing patient rooms from becoming available for new arrivals. The discharge decision is typically made early in the morning by the attending physician. However, delays from numerous sources would frequently result in the patient's departure not occurring until late in the day, or even being delayed until the following day. A simulation study was undertaken to identify ways to reduce the duration of the patient discharge process, thereby increasing the availability of rooms for new patients.