Simulating the patient move: Transitioning to a replacement hospital

One of the more complex maneuvers a hospital system can perform is moving an entire patient population from an old facility to a replacement facility. All patients must be transported via ambulance or van to a new replacement hospital. This requires massive resources, permits, cooperation of local government, and often assistance from neighboring hospitals. This study utilized simulation to determine optimal resources, routing, and timing for the movement of almost 600 inpatients from two different facilities to a new replacement facility. Potential resource constraints of specialized move teams, ambulances, and other staffing constraints were explored to predict and reduce the likelihood of complications during the two day patient move.