Improving Resource Allocation Efficiency in Health Care Delivery Systems

In this study, a new framework for improving resource management in the health care delivery system is proposed. The underlying principle of the new approach is based on the participation and involvement of all stakeholders at the early stages of model development. Additionally, the modeling process is an iterative one that is governed by the views and inputs of the stakeholders rather than by pre-specified requirements and objectives. Another important aspect of the proposed approach is that it provides a mechanism for evaluating system performance and identifying activities that have considerable impact on performance as well as activities that have minimum added value within the service delivery system. The new proposed approach was used to develop a generic model for the emergency department at Zayed Hospital, Abu Dhabi. The approach was found to be effective in improving the utilization efficiency of human and material resources and in decreasing patient length-of-stay