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Length of Stay-Based Patient Flow Models: Recent Developments and Future Directions

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Abstract

Modelling patient flow in health care systems is vital in understanding the system activity and may therefore prove to be useful in improving their functionality. An extensively used measure is the average length of stay which, although easy to calculate and quantify, is not considered appropriate when the distribution is very long-tailed. In fact, simple deterministic models are generally considered inadequate because of the necessity for models to reflect the complex, variable, dynamic and multidimensional nature of the systems. This paper focuses on modelling length of stay and flow of patients. An overview of such modelling techniques is provided, with particular attention to their impact and suitability in managing a hospital service.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Queen’s University of Belfast, David Bates Building, Belfast Northern Ireland, UK

    Adele Marshall

  2. Harrow School of Computer Science, University of Westminster, UK

    Christos Vasilakis & Elia El-Darzi

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  1. Adele Marshall
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  2. Christos Vasilakis
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  3. Elia El-Darzi
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Correspondence to Adele Marshall.

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Marshall, A., Vasilakis, C. & El-Darzi, E. Length of Stay-Based Patient Flow Models: Recent Developments and Future Directions. Health Care Manage Sci 8, 213–220 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10729-005-2012-z

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