Saturday November 14, 2009 – Sunday November 15, 2009
University of British Columbia | Vancouver, BC

Health care managers faced with making decisions under uncertainty are increasingly using the analytical tool of discrete-event simulation (DES). DES models allow decision makers to test “what-if” scenarios and evaluate a variety of outcomes prior to implementing any changes to actual practice. Attendees of this workshop will learn how to model complex health care processes using a popular DES software package (Arena). Participants will come away from the workshop understanding the foundations of simulation modeling as well as acquiring hands-on knowledge of how to construct and analyze a simulation model.

Background

DES has been used for many years in various industries, including health care, to help managers capture the complex detail of many real-world processes and estimate the various outcomes that may arise under different process changes. Among other things, DES has been applied in health care to analyze patient admissions scheduling, nurse and physician scheduling, bed planning, and emergency room operations. As health care has become increasingly costly and decision making in health care increasingly complex, a tool such as DES, which can help decision makers balance various trade-offs under uncertainty of outcomes, is invaluable.

Optional reading material:

Jun, JB., Jacobson, SH., and JR Swisher.  Application of discrete-event simulation in health care clinics: A survey.  Journal of the Operational Research Society (1999) 50, 109-123.

Click here for other materials on this subject suggested by media sponsor Longwoods.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for health care professionals who have an interest in analytical approaches to health outcomes research but who have no previous training in DES applied to health care. A previous course in statistics would be helpful background knowledge.

Instructors

The course will be co-taught by Dr. Steven Shechter, Assistant Professor in UBC’s Sauder School of Business, and Candice Chan, who received her Master of Management in Operations Research at UBC.

Steven has taught DES to graduate students at UBC the past three years, and he also has experience teaching DES to health care executives.  His personal work in health care simulation includes developing models to compare policies for allocating donated organs as well as for treating HIV.

Candice is currently working at the Fraser Health Authority as an Operations Engineer.  Her focus is on the development of the new Surrey Outpatient Facility, where she uses DES modeling as a decision support tool to analyze patient flow, scheduling, resource allocation, and utilization at the various clinics.  Prior to that, Candice developed a simulation model to evaluate potential redesigns of the surgical department at BC Children’s Hospital.

Fees and Registration

The cost for this workshop is $ 555.00 (including GST).
Registration Deadline Extended: November 9, 2009 12 pm PST.

Click here to access on-line registration.

Schedule

Click here to view the workshop schedule.
Click here to view the DES Promotional Brochure 2009.

Travel Information

CHCM has reserved suites for workshop participants at the West Coast Suites, conveniently located at the University of British Columbia, Point Grey Campus.   Group participants should book their accommodation online, using the secure website.  Guests are also welcome to contact the West Coast Suites Reservations Office at (Toll-Free) 1 888 822 1030 to make a reservation.  Please inform the hotel staff that they are guests of the Centre for Health Care Management.

For more information please contact: The Centre for Health Care Management at 1-604-827-5714