Analytical framework to establish requisite bed capacity when cohorting paediatric patients

This paper describes an analytical framework for establishing requisite bed capacity when cohorting paediatric patients by defined characteristics. As guided by the analytical framework, a simulation-based lean six-sigma approach is applied to analyze the operational data and processes when cohorting patients, and opportunities are identified for process improvement. The analytical framework is illustrated through a case study to cohort paediatric patients by medical specialty, bed class, age, gender, given number of beds-in-service etc. to minimise or avoid: (a) interchanging bed types when a patient is of an age that requires use of a different bed type; (b) mixed gender sharing of cubicles by teenaged patients; (c) crying infants and young children being housed with older patients. The outcomes show that the hospital can better assess the feasibility of different cohorting scenarios based on the resulting impact before implementing a change.