The use of modelling studies to inform planning of health services: case study of rapidly increasing endoscopy services in Australia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Demand for gastrointestinal endoscopy in Australia is increasing as a result of the expanding national bowel cancer screening program and a growing, ageing population. More services are required to meet demand and ensure patients are seen within clinically recommended timeframes.

Methods

A discrete event simulation model was developed to project endoscopy waiting list outcomes for two large metropolitan health services encompassing 8 public hospitals in Australia. The model applied routinely collected health service data to forecast the impacts of future endoscopic demand over 5 years and to identify the level of service activity required to address patient waiting times and meet key policy targets. The approach incorporated evidence from the literature to produce

SUBMITTER: Carter HE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6716875 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature