Quantitative Modelling for Wait Time Reduction

This thesis describes the use of operational research§techniques to analyze the wait list for the division§of general surgery at the Capital District Health§Authority (CDHA) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. A§comprehensive simulation model was developed to§facilitate capacity planning decisions and to analyze§the performance of the division. §§At the time of the study the wait list for elective§general surgery patients was observed to be growing§by approximately 13.2 days per year with no concrete§plan to address it. The analysis examined the§consequences of redistributing beds between sites,§assigning operating room time by surgeon demand, and§achieving standard patient lengths of stay, while§contrasting them to current and additional resource§options. From the results, multiple independent and§combined options for stabilizing and decreasing waits§for elective procedures were proposed. This thesis describes the use of operational research§techniques to analyze the wait list for the division§of general surgery at the Capital District Health§Authority (CDHA) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. A§comprehensive simulation model was developed to§facilitate capacity planning decisions and to analyze§the performance of the division. §At the time of the study the wait list for elective§general surgery patients was observed to be growing§by approximately 13.2 days per year with no concrete§plan to address it. The analysis examined the§consequences of redistributing beds between sites,§assigning operating room time by surgeon demand, and§achieving standard patient lengths of stay, while§contrasting them to current and additional resource§options. From the results, multiple independent and§combined options for stabilizing and decreasing waits§for elective procedures were proposed.