Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > Use of queue modelling in the analysis of elect...

Links

Text available via DOI:

View graph of relations

Use of queue modelling in the analysis of elective patient treatment governed by a maximum waiting time guarantee

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>1/07/2015
<mark>Journal</mark>European Journal of Operational Research
Issue number1
Volume244
Number of pages8
Pages (from-to)331-338
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date22/01/15
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Many public healthcare systems struggle with excessive waiting lists for elective patient treatment. Different countries address this problem in different ways, and one interesting method entails a maximum waiting time guarantee. Introduced in Denmark in 2002, it entitles patients to treatment at a private hospital in Denmark or at a hospital abroad if the public healthcare system is
unable to provide treatment within the stated maximum waiting time guarantee. Although clearly very attractive in some respects, many stakeholders have been very concerned about the negative consequences of the policy on the utilization of public hospital resources. This paper illustrates the use of a queue modelling approach in the analysis of elective patient treatment governed by the maximum
waiting time policy. Drawing upon the combined strengths of analytic and simulation approaches we develop both continuous-time Markov chain and discrete event simulation models, to provide an insightful analysis of the public hospital performance under the policy rules. The aim of this paper is to
support the enhancement of the quality of elective patient care, to be brought about by better understanding of the policy implications by hospital planners and strategic decision makers.