Mathematical modelling for the capacity planning of market oriented systems: with an application to real health data

Abstract

This paper presents mathematical modelling for the prediction of patient/client/customer “flows” within a large geographical domain. The modelling also accounts for differing levels of aggregation of the origin and destination zones, referral patterns, and various scenarios of closure, expansion, contraction, and merger of facilities. Some results of applications of the modelling to capacity planning are presented for a data base aggregated for the acute care facilities within the state of Massachusetts.