Development of a Simulation Model for Analyzing Outpatients’ Waiting Time in a Health Center

Abstract

Healthcare centers constantly experience a high influx of people seeking health services and facilities. Outpatients often have to wait in long queues at different sections of the facility being serviced. This study analyzed the patients’ waiting time in a university healthcare center in Nigeria using a discrete event simulation technique. The movements of people within the system were studied to collect data. Queuing parameters of arrival and service rates for each department were derived from the probability distributions. A discrete event of the system model was built and simulated for 24 hours. The result shows that the patient arrival pattern follows a Poisson distribution with an average arrival rate of 11 patients per minute. Consultation rooms 1, 2, 3, and 4 have arrival rates of 15,4,10, and 4 patients per minute respectively. The simulated and optimized system ouputs indicated drastic reduction of 38-60% in patients’ average waiting times. The study suggested an additional consultation room and a server added to the records and laboratory units.