Bed blockage in Irish hospitals: system dynamics methodology

Abstract

Population aging is creating an immense pressure on hospitals to meet the growing demand for elderly healthcare services. Current demand-supply gaps results in prolonged waiting times for patients and substantial costs for hospitals due to delay in discharges. This study uses System Dynamics (SD) methodology to address the bed blockage in the Irish healthcare hospitals that results from elderly patients delay in discharge. The developed system dynamic model helped decision makers to envisage the problem complexity. Stock and flow intervention policies are proposed and evaluated subject to the projected future demographic changes. The model enables policy makers to identify potential strategic policies that will contribute significantly to overcome the delayed discharge for elderly patients.