Capacity Planning in Health Care

Abstract

Capacity planning in health care is greatly complicated by the nature of the service. The individuality of each patient leads to multiplicity of potential resource requirements often consumed in sequence and with varying degrees of urgency. Patients are also able to refuse treatment, lobby for a different type of treatment, or simply fail to show up for treatment. Finally, the dire consequences sometimes resulting from untimely access lead to much lower tolerances with regards to meeting performance targets. All these complexities make for significant challenges when seeking to plan capacity in the health care setting.