A Simulation-Based Approach for Assessing the Impact of Uncertainty on Patient Waiting Time in the Operating Room

Abstract

Demand for surgical care is rising worldwide, making the organization of the operating room (OR) a topic of strong interest. During the last two decades, the number of papers on methods for OR planning and scheduling under uncertainty has increased significantly. However, most hospitals neglect this aspect, and use deterministic approaches to schedule their surgical interventions. This leads us to the following research question: "How can discrete-event simulation help assess the impact of uncertainty on patient waiting time in the OR?" To answer this question, we suggest a 3-step methodology: (1) building the deterministic model of the studied OR, (2) implementing uncertainties on activity durations, patient arrival times and patient care requirements, and (3) experimenting with different uncertainty-related scenarios and analyzing the results. We have applied this methodology to a use-case inspired from our partner's OR: Hôpital Privé de La Baie, from the Vivalto Santé French health group.