Simulating health systems: modelling problems and software solutions

Discrete event simulation is well suited to modelling health systems, providing valuable information for operational or strategic purposes. Simulation packages provide facilities for creating models in which individuals pass through a series of queues and activities. Modelling problems arise in health systems because patients renege from queues, take part in multiple activities, prematurely terminate activities, and change activities midstream. Simulation structures have been developed in Pascal to facilitate the description of these modelling complexities. Illustrations of the software's use are taken from an example of a simulation of patients with renal failure.