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

Authors

  • 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.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Tang Sai Hong, 1,2,4Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Associate Professor

Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing

Faculty of Engineering

Universiti Putra Malaysia

43400 Serdang

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Malaysia

Pah Pin Shang, 1,2,4Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing

Faculty of Engineering

Universiti Putra Malaysia

43400 Serdang

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Malaysia

?

Manohar Arumugam, Department of Orthopaedic Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Associate Professor

Department of Orthopaedic

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Universiti Putra Malaysia

43400 Serdang

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Malaysia

Rosnah Mohd Yusuff, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Professor

Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing

Faculty of Engineering

Universiti Putra Malaysia

43400 Serdang

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Malaysia

Downloads

Published

2013-11-30

How to Cite

Hong, T. S., Shang, P. P., Arumugam, M., & Mohd Yusuff, R. (2013). Use of simulation to solve outpatient clinic problems: A review of the literature. The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 24(3), 27–42. https://doi.org/10.7166/24-3-551

Issue

Section

General Articles