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- Title
A queueing model of activities in an intensive care unit.
- Authors
Griffiths, J. D.; Price-Lloyd, N.; Smithies, M.; Williams, J.
- Abstract
Activities in an intensive care unit (ICU) at a major teaching hospital are modelled by means of a queue-theoretic approach. Using data supplied by the ICU relating to the admissions process, the bed availability and the length of stay of patients, it was possible to fit theoretical distributions to the observed ‘arrival’ and ‘service’ distributions. Queueing equations relevant to a multi-channel system having random arrivals and hyper-exponential service times for each channel are set up, and solved iteratively. Results obtained match well with observations, and the model is then utilised to investigate several ‘what if?.’ scenarios. Reference is made to a simulation model developed in conjunction with the queueing model.
- Subjects
INTENSIVE care units; QUEUING theory; HOSPITAL admission &; discharge; HOSPITAL beds; MEDICAL care; HEALTH services administration; TEACHING hospitals
- Publication
IMA Journal of Management Mathematics, 2006, Vol 17, Issue 3, p277
- ISSN
1471-678X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/imaman/dpi042