Quantitative Modelling for Wait Time Reduction

This thesis describes the use of operational research
techniques to analyze the wait list for the division
of general surgery at the Capital District Health
Authority (CDHA) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. A
comprehensive simulation model was developed to
facilitate capacity planning decisions and to analyze
the performance of the division.
At the time of the study the wait list for elective
general surgery patients was observed to be growing
by approximately 13.2 days per year with no concrete
plan to address it. The analysis examined the
consequences of redistributing beds between sites,
assigning operating room time by surgeon demand, and
achieving standard patient lengths of stay, while
contrasting them to current and additional resource
options. From the results, multiple independent and
combined options for stabilizing and decreasing waits
for elective procedures were proposed.