Challenge
Offer options for emergency department resource allocation in a fixed maximum square foot area. Determine potential benefits of universal resources.
Solution
A mathematical model was used to develop multiple resource allocation options that maximized the total number of resources in the given area. Using 15 months of patient data, multiple variations of a simulation model were built to show resource utilization and waiting times for different patient types.
Result
The results of the simulation model helped ED physicians, who were concerned with the ability to offer a specialized pediatric experience, see the benefits of operating under a universal model. The final design utilizes architectural elements and expert pediatric physicians operating within the universal environment to create the pediatric experience.