Observation policies for patient and resource tracking in outpatient clinics

In this paper we construct a Petri net model that is used to determine the optimal number of observers required to track the patients in a real world outpatient clinic. The goal of tracking is to collect sample data that can be used for statistical analysis of system (clinic) performance. The Petri net model has several components including the patients´ workflow stages and the behaviors of the observers who are tracking the patients. The model also includes the dynamics of human and nonhuman resources that serve the patients. We simulate the constructed Petri net model to determine the duration of observation under different number of observers. We then use the results to calculate the cost of observation and to determine the best observation policy.