Simulation modeling and analysis on asset planning for Emergency Medical System (EMS)

In recent decades, health care cost has increased dramatically, while health care organizations have been under severe pressure to provide improved quality health care for their patients. Several health care administrators have used discrete event simulation as an effective way for allocating resources to improve patient flow, while meeting health care delivery budget and increase patient satisfaction. The rapid growth in simulation software technology has created numerous new application opportunity, including more sophisticated implementations, as well as combining optimization and simulation for complex integrated facilities. This paper surveys the application of discrete-event simulation modeling to healthcare systems of clinics. We also present the overview of how simulation was used to investigate the reduction of waiting times in an mid-size city´s Emergency Medical System, as well as in meeting future demand growth while minimizing long term capital expenditures.