Quantitative Modelling for Wait Time Reduction

by Peter VanBerkel, John T. Blake

This book 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.

100 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 2008

About the author

Peter grew up on a small farm in rural Nova Scotia, Canada, getting up at sunrise to milk the cows and tend to farm chores before heading down to the old mill pond to practice his slapshot. He was educated at St. Francis Xavier University, and later Dalhousie University in Canada before pursuing a PhD in Logistics & Applied Mathematics at the University or Twente in the Netherlands.

Peter is married to the Canadian actress Constance Stewart.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book of the year, 2009!