szschaler
commented
3 years ago Very good write up. How would ABM (rather than, say, system dynamics or discrete event) modelling help here?
Open thomasGodfrey opened 3 years ago
szschaler
commented
3 years ago Very good write up. How would ABM (rather than, say, system dynamics or discrete event) modelling help here?
This would need further discussion with someone in-the-know, but I got the sense from our meeting (8th Dec) this could be interesting to look into
COVID Symptomatic tests, conducted in the ED, must be portered to the lab, processed, and communicated back to the ED. The lab has an average input of around 800 tests a day (need verifying). As a result, the typical turnaround time for a lab test is close to 24 hours. For cases where a test result is needed more quickly, the tests can be placed in a red bag to signify to the lab that this test requires priority. Typically, these red bags have been used for surgery patients, as well as patients who are considered at-risk. With COVID presenting such a high risk to the ED, staff have been advised to send all COVID tests in one of these red bags. While case numbers are relatively low, this system appears manageable, as only a small number of tests are prioritised. But, in the case of another COVID spike, and as other respiratory diseases (such as Flu) become more prevalent over the winter period, there is a risk that it will no longer be appropriate to treat all ED tests as a priority. If the lab is overrun with red bags, then the priority system may begin to falter. The relative priority of COVID tests may vary across ED cases, and so the red bag system may no longer be appropriate. It would be interesting to investigate the cut-off points at which the red bag system results in decreasing lab result performance. At what number of COVID tests, is it no longer beneficial to red-bag a test. At what point does red-bagging every ED test result in actual high-priority patients waiting longer.