A Discrete Event Simulation Model for the Management of Patients Flow in Healthcare Emergency Department

This paper demonstrates the use of discrete event simulation as applicable in healthcare industry. It investigated the congestion in Emergency Department (ED) of Federal Medical Centre, Yola-Nigeria. Patient flow processes were modeled using ARENA simulation software. Also patients waiting and service times were simulated. The simulation result revealed that on average, Patients spent 22 minutes waiting for consultation and 38 minutes for receiving services daily in the ED, as compared to the actual data which is approximately 32 minutes and 67 minutes respectively. Based on the result obtained from the simulation model developed, it is shown that there is a long waiting period for a patient to gain consultation even if an appointment system is applied. The most prevalent issues that affect the ED of FMC Yola are bed availability and the need to divert patient traffic when the ED is full.