Computer Simulation: A Methodology to Improve the Efficiency in the Brooke Army Medical Center Family Care Clinic (A Patient Wait Case Study).

摘要

The executive leadership at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) believes there are inefficiencies, characterized by poor access, high patient total time in the clinic, high patient wait time and inappropriate resource utilization in the BAMC primary care clinics. Computer simulation was selected to assist in reengineering the primary care clinics at BAMC to improve efficiency and patient satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to describe the current system and to evaluate the potential impact of process/resource changes in patient wait times, access and resource utilization at the BAMC family Care Clinic (FCC). The base models were utilized to compare results of proposed process/resource changes. Alternate models were compared to the base models for the time the patient waits for the PCPs (Primary Care Providers), the total time a patient is in the clinic and resource utilization (e.g. PCPs, LVNs Licensed Vocational Nurse and exam rooms). Comparison of mod outputs revealed that two alternate models were more efficient than the base model. Ultimately, these alternate models' multiple resources were optimized at 110,120 and 130 percent of FY99 FCC visits to ascertain the best process/resource to improve access and patient wait times in the FCC.