Model for reducing surgical delays for selective surgeries in Hospital El Progreso, Yoro

Abstract

This research was conducted at El Progreso Hospital in Yoro, Honduras. Statistical data shows that the current surgical delay time is 120 days, compared to the 30 day recommendation made by the World Health Organization and the Honduran government. In light of this problem, a simulation model has been constructed to evaluate ways of decreasing such waiting periods. For the simulation design the study used a quantitative-dominant mixed model. Data was given to the Flexism simulation software to corroborate the parameters used in the simulation, the study constructed a log of surgeries from the year 2012,conducted boa-and-whiskers plots, ANOVA tests and hypothesis tests for each of the surgeons (A,B, and C) in the six most frequent surgical interventions according to the Pareto Diagram. Once the actual model had been validated, 5 types of scenarios were re-created. The first scenario was chosen because it was found to have the most impact and the least cost, resulting in reduction of the waiting time to only 38 days. Therefore, it is recommended to implement the first scenario to reduce the waiting time and to stay within hospital budget.