Defining a target utilization

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Maryam H2 asked Jun 9, '21 Eric M commented Jun 15, '21

Defining a target utilization

Hi all,

I was wondering if we can define a target utilization (for example, 70%) for a location like an examination bed, so it creates patient schedules or patient arrivals somehow that utilization rate for that location will not pass the pre-defined utilization rate. How we can create such a schedule for patients in FlexSim? Is it possible? Can we define a target utilization in OptQuest?

Also, If we want to equalize the scheduling plan between AM and PM sessions, how is this possible given the number of patients with various processing times?

Thanks!

Software Version:

FlexSim 21.1.2

flexsim 21.1.2 flexsim healthcare utilization scheduling patient arrivals

Answer 1 · 2021-06-10T16:46:38Z

Eric M answered Jun 10, '21 Eric M commented Jun 15, '21

Hi @Maryam H2, I don't think there's a way to directly manipulate the patient creation schedule based on utilization, but you can make patients wait to acquire resources based on utilization. In the resource in process flow, you can use a filter to limit which objects can be acquired by a patient. The image below shows an example of how you might do that. This limits the patient to only acquiring doctors whose utilization is below 70%.

A similar thing can be done in OptQuest using constraints. You fist have to set a performance measure that measures the utilization of an object or group (I did this by making a state chart in the dashboard that measures utilization, and then sampled that chart in the performance measure). Then you can do something similar to the image below to set a constraint on the utilization:

I'm slightly confused on your last question about the AM / PM scheduling. Since it is a bit different than your original question, would you mind posting a new question with a little more detail explaining what you're hoping to accomplish? Thanks.

1623343106303.png (13.6 KiB)

1623343361287.png (12.3 KiB)

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Maryam H2 commented · Jun 10, 2021 at 06:16 PM

Thanks for the response,@Eric M!

Using the first approach, is there any way to define the utilization in the filter to not pass 0.7 for each hour, so the utilization of resources never passes 70% hourly. For example, if I use the filter to have a target utilization of less than 0.7 for a resource. Then go to the Experimenter and try different scenarios ( 2 resources, 3 resources, and 4 resources) when I look at the utilization box plot chart, I see in some hours we have passed 70% utilization while in others there is still room to have more use of the resource (12 PM is a lunch break here).

By using OptQuest, I did the same thing as you described, however, I sampled the utilization chart partitioned by the hour (its scenario chart is shown above) and selected "All Data - Maximum". Is this the right way if I want to make a decision based on the maximum utilization of 70% on each hour in OptQuest?

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1623348552199.png (126.1 KiB)

Eric M Maryam H2 commented · Jun 11, 2021 at 06:11 PM

@Maryam H2 that's a good question. The reason some hours are over the mark is because the total utilization at that point in the day is still less than 70%. There may be a couple ways of doing it by hour instead. It would probably be helpful to have access to your model to find the best way of doing this. Is there any chance you could post it? If it's proprietary, you can post it in a new private question that only allows access to Flexsim U.S. support.

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Maryam H2 Eric M commented · Jun 11, 2021 at 08:10 PM

Got it! Yes, that would be really helpful, I will look into it and get back to you. Thanks again!

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