Maximizing hospital finanacial impact and emergency department throughput with simulation

Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital (Tucson, Arizona), the Ascension Health Operations Resource Group and FDI Simulation team worked collaboratively to improve hospital flow and increase access to care by implementing process improvements based on simulation that reduced the Emergency Center (EC) length of stay by 7%, increased the EC monthly volume by 5%, increased the inpatient daily census by 20% and improved the hospital net operating margin by 1.3% above budget. This paper demonstrates simulation's unique ability to direct improvement efforts for maximum impact operationally, financially and for the best benefit of the patient.