Geographical modelling of patient episode flows and hospital catchment populations: a case study in Northern Ireland

Hindle, Adam J.; Hindle, Giles A.; Hindle, Tony

Abstract

© 2012, Copyright © 2012, Operational Research Society Ltd. This paper describes the development of a decision support framework, which contributed to the strategic management of radical changes in hospital services in Northern Ireland. The approach employed geographical modelling to estimate patient episode flow effects between geographical areas and hospitals under different hospital configurations. Such effects are central to the evaluation of key strategic issues such as catchment population characteristics (and the funding of such), capacity planning and achievement of access/travel time targets. The approach is illustrated with an evaluation of a new-build hospital development in a region within the Province. With respect to the modelling of episode flows, this research has investigated proximity to the nearest ‘appropriate’ hospital as a primary explanatory factor determining hospital choice and has explored ways of defining and quantifying appropriateness.

Citation

Hindle, A. J., Hindle, G. A., & Hindle, T. (2013). Geographical modelling of patient episode flows and hospital catchment populations: a case study in Northern Ireland. Health Systems, 2(1), 53-60. https://doi.org/10.1057/hs.2012.13

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 8, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Dec 19, 2017
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Apr 1, 2022
• Journal: Health Systems
• Print ISSN: 2047-6965
• Electronic ISSN: 2047-6973
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 53-60
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/hs.2012.13
• Keywords: OR in health services; Decision support systems; Hospitals; OR in strategic planning
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3598698