Two Applications of Simulation in Healthcare Decision Making

Abstract

This study investigated the use of simulation modelling to promote informed decision making in two contexts: healthcare operations and classroom education. The first of these relied on a simple game-based model under a lean framework to aide healthcare stakeholder in the identification of overly variable processes. By creating a validation model in Microsoft Excel, we were able to create a communicable tool to assist in the universal implementation of lean methodologies. The second context identified the Monty Hall Problem as an efficacious example in helping decision makers overcome cognitive biases in decision making. We argue that the synthesis of this problem with simulation modelling can be used as a tool to teach three concepts: conditional probability, simulation, and informed decision making. Both parts of this investigation add to our understanding of the uses of simulation to promote decision making.