An Analysis for the Use of Simulation Modeling in Reducing Patient Waiting Time in Emergency Departments (EDs) in Hospitals

2. Methodology

Literature review is carried out from 1970 to 2013. It is implemented as per plan shown in the Figure 1. We used a two-phase approach to identify simulation relevant to problem of waiting time in ED. In the first phase, we searched and analyzed the databases of PubMed, Proquest, ACM, IEEE, and simulation Conferences. These databases are the sources of literature in computer science, operations management, health care, and engineering fields. We applied the search phrases like ‘simulation in emergency department’, etc. Classification of research papers are carried out on the basis of different ED Simulation for problem solving purpose. In the second phase, we examined the references of these 66 research papers. After this phase, we had a total of 52 simulation studies. Most of these studies were conducted after 1990. Analysis of these papers are carried on basis of patient waiting in ED, simulation modeling, objectives, Modeling techniques, data sources, collection methods and study findings. Different research papers which are studied are shown in Figure 2 with reference to five year span and respective number of referenced papers in that span. The number of paper was obtained up to 2 during 1970 to 1980. It was reduced during span of 1981-1985. It was raised to 3 in span of 1986-1990. After 1991, number was increased drastically which was shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1.

Plan for literature review of simulation studies

Figure 2.

Year with number of studies

3. Analysis Of Simulation Studies

Authors analyzed the simulation studies with respect to: (1)Patient waiting in ED (2)Simulation modeling (3) Objectives (4) Modeling techniques(5) Data sources and collection methods (6) Study findings