Modelling patient flows through hospitals: optimizing effective use of resources

医院是复杂的、动态的系统，在实际能力萎缩的情况下，面临着不断增长的需求。目前，这类系统的管理是在不太理想的分析支持下进行的，特别是在需求和能力不断变化、必须操纵资源以应对这种变化的情况下。在这个项目中，研究人员将应用数学建模方法来分析医院病人的流动。此外，他们将采用统计过程控制方法来识别和应对流程中的变化，以实现业绩目标。在这样做时，他们将在决定如何最好地管理有限的资源以最大化访问、吞吐量和患者结果方面为卫生服务经理和临床医生提供显著的优势。

Hospitals are complex, dynamic systems confronted by increased demand in the face of shrinking real capacity. Managing such systems is currently undertaken with sub-optimal analytical support, particularly when demand and capacity are changing and resources must be manipulated to respond to such changes. In this project, the investigators will apply a mathematical modelling approach to the analysis of hospital patient flows. Furthermore, they will employ statistical process control methodologies to the problem of recognising and responding to changes in the flows, so that performance objectives are met. In doing this, they will give health service managers and clinicians a significant advantage in deciding how best to manage a constrained resource to maximize access, throughput and patient outcomes.