A Modeling Framework for an Innovative e-Health Service: The Hospital at Home

Abstract

AbstractThis paper explores a modeling and simulation framework in healthcare following a process-centric approach. We focus on an innovative hospital service, Hospital at Home. The framework introduces a business process analysis to detect weakness and bottlenecks, including simulation to perform scenario analysis and the integration to e-Health solutions. The aim is to investigate the role of technological innovations as telemedicine and televisiting in order to explore the impact on both patient well-being and business process management. This work provides an overview of the functioning of the actual process. The outcome of the here proposed framework allows hospital managers to evaluate the extension of this kind of healthcare service, e.g. to other hospital departments or territorial contexts. The direct and positive impact of assistive technologies on the quality of life of patients, has an impact on the overall management of the organizational processes. First, we describe how this kind of service, its presence on the territory, its adaptability and the interaction with telemedicine improves benefits both for patients and operators. Second, we discuss how the approach is suitable to be applied in case of emergency situation, e.g. COVID-19.Keywordse-HealthTelemedicineCovid-19Business process management and simulation