Use of simulation to solve outpatient clinic problems: A review of the literature

• Tang Sai Hong 1,2,4Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
• Pah Pin Shang 1,2,4Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
• Manohar Arumugam Department of Orthopaedic Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
• Rosnah Mohd Yusuff Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7166/24-3-551

Keywords:

Simulation, outpatient clinic, scheduling, resources allocation, review

Abstract

The increasing demand for outpatient services has led to overcrowded clinics, long waiting times for patients, and extended staff working hours in outpatient clinics. Simulation tools have been used to ameliorate deficiencies in the appointment system, resource allocation, and patient flow management that are the root causes of these problems. Integrated studies that considered these three factors together produced better results than attempts to resolve individual causes. While simulation has proved to be an effective problem-solving tool for outpatient clinic management, there is still room for improvement. This paper reviews studies over the past 50 years that have applied management simulation to resolve outpatient clinic problems.