Title: Queuing theory analysis and simulation of patient throughput in radiology
Abstract: Queuing theory analysis of patient waiting times and resource utilisation in hospital facilities has been employed in many studies to date to offer insight into potential improvements in service efficiency. Data gathered from services has also been used to generate mathematical simulations of workflow to answer theoretical questions for planning purposes. The installation of PACS, RIS and other hospital information systems in most major hospitals now means that patient throughput data has become more easily available. While the majority of the literature has focussed on emergency departments, outpatient clinics and radiotherapy facilities, very little analysis has been conducted on the radiology department, regarded as a core facility within the hospital whose efficient utilisation is necessary for overall hospital efficiency. Furthermore, the current Irish economic climate has meant that extra resources are becoming increasingly limited and, thus, new and inventive initiatives are being sought for improved efficiency in radiology services, while maintaining quality. In this study, departmental activity was quantified by analysing patient order, scan and report time data for different modalities (MRI, ultrasound and CT). The activity metrics used were 50th, 75th and 90th patient examined percentile, in addition to total numbers waiting. Computational simulations were also devised to model scheduling and cancellation patterns, towards identifying improved efficiency in modality workflow. With the mathematical and analytical skills available to medical physics departments across Ireland, this study highlights an opportunity for physicists to become further involved in radiology department operations.
Publication Year: 2013
Publication Date: 2013-09-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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