CLIENT:
Laser Spine Institute CASE STUDY
Cleveland, OH
Use discrete event simulation in facility design validation before starting construction. Industrial and Systems Engineers are playing a more prominent role as the healthcare industry looks to provide higher-quality, cost-effective care. In healthcare facility planning, discrete event simulation can determine the impact of varying layouts and new work flows before knocking down a single wall, saving valuable time and money.
CHALLENGE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Sometimes a process looks good on paper,
Recently, Laser Spine Institute (LSI) in Cleveland, Ohio, decided to extend its services
but does not function as expected. When
by building satellite facilities across the country. These new facilities are smaller than
there are a number of variables in play,
the existing facility, and operate using a slightly altered process flow. To determine
each with a distinct distribution, it can be
the appropriate space requirements for the new, smaller scale model, Array built a
difficult to predict how a system will react.
discrete event simulation model. Two major project goals were to confirm that patients could recover completely in a PACU room without causing other patients to wait in the operating room, and
SOLUTION
determine whether the space was large enough to bring in an additional surgeon,
Design Validation
The study began with patient flow observation, allowing the Healthcare Systems
Array used a simulation study to determine
Engineer to gain an understanding of the ambulatory surgery center’s operations.
whether the newly designed process was
Array captured input data using the system’s electronic medical records; we
optimal, and whether the number of rooms
used validation and verification techniques to ensure the simulation accurately
was adequate for the patient volume the
represented the system. We then used the valid model to test different operating
outpatient spinal surgery center hoped
scenarios.
to serve. Basing the process design on
The linked publication goes into detail of how we used a simulation model to
efficient practices leads to an easier
determine the appropriate number of prep and recovery rooms for the expected
implementation of productive work flows,
patient flow.
potentially leading to the treatment of more patients.
staff movement and patient routing.
PUBLICATION
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
12
Scenarios Developed & Tested
8
Prep/Recovery Flex rooms
2
Objectives Defined by the Client
DISCOVERING YOUR HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS TOGETHER We are innovators who specialize in the areas your system seeks out to leverage its valuable operational and facility resources. Array Advisors has the expertise and skills to reach beyond your milestones and provide you the decision support you need.
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We are Array Advisors, your trusted partners in Strategy Development, Organizational
individuals lead our efforts, which focus on your unique place in the healthcare delivery spectrum. Our knowledgeable staff can help you solve strategic business problems and develop a method to improve efficiency and utilization.
Transformation, and Facility Informatics. The challenges you face are not unique, but your solutions should be. Through a partnership of Strategy and Transformation we help you achieve and sustain. Our process begins by understanding your current operations and clearly defining your system’s goals before generating options. We employ a variety of integrated methods tailored to your strategic challenges, such as process mapping; operational planning; and healthcare real estate portfolio optimization, to help position your organization for future success.
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Informatics Building Information Model management (BIM) is an enabler of most other technology trends in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations (AECO) industry, including but not limited to: sustainable design, offsite fabrication, LEAN construction, and energy efficient operations. Carefully considering how best to leverage virtual/digital representations of physical buildings can provide significant returns on innovation throughout the entire lifecycle of your facilities.
Strategy The need for healthcare real estate portfolio optimization has never been greater. With the acceleration in mergers and acquisitions, as well as the evolution of clinical models, healthcare organizations must continuously evaluate their physical assets and maximize the value they derive from them.
Transformation Transformation and lean methods are very useful when focusing on operational process improvement. By bringing all constituents together and giving them the tools to experiment and test new ideas, current state barriers can be identified and transcended.
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Published: NOVEMBER 2015