La hoja de cálculo como apoyo a la simulación de los fenómenos de espera con prioridades. Una aplicación a la sanidad

Abstract

This study, based on Queueing Theory with Priorities, combines a method developed by the authors using a spreadsheet together with Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), in order to simulate how a surgical waiting-list operates in Surgery, Ophthalmology and Traumatology services. We use data from a hospital in Murcia. We measure the number of surgical sessions scheduled by the hospital, needed to avoid delays and sending patients to other hospital. Moreover, we propose using three priority levels according to the seriousness of the patients’ illnesses, as well as establishing what the capacity of the hospital should be in order to avoid average delays longer than 45 days, besides avoiding any patient waiting longer than 180 days.