Proactive patient flow redesign for integration of multiple outpatient clinics

Successful merging or consolidation of interdependent healthcare clinics have been shown to have benefits with regards to decreasing operation costs while maintaining patients' quality of care. In order to achieve a successful merger or integration of clinics, an analysis of the effects of integrating patient flows should occur. This is especially important when the merger of clinics involves a transition into a new facility. We utilize a discrete event simulation model to study the effects of integrating three interdependent musculoskeletal clinics, Orthopedics, Rheumatology, and Radiology, into a new facility in advance of implementation. Through use of the simulation, unexpected bottlenecks in the check-in process are identified and the effects of implementing new patient flows, supported by Real-Time Location System (RTLS) technology, are analyzed.