Optimisation-Based on Simulation: A Diagnostic Imaging Department Case-Study

The growing influx of patients in healthcare providers is the result of an aging population and emerging self-consciousness about health. Thus, it is necessary to implement methodologies that optimize the healthcare provider´s efficiency while increasing patient throughput and reducing patient´s total waiting time. This paper presents a case study of a conventional radiology workflow analysis in a Portuguese Healthcare Provider. Modeling tools were applied to define the existing workflow. Reengineered workflows were analyzed in a simulation tool. The integration of modeling and simulation tools allowed the identification of system bottlenecks. This study is focused in an Imaging Department and resulted in the identification of a new workflow that permits the relative reduction of the total completion time in 41%.