RFID-based Clinical Decision Support System using Simulation modeling

Abstract

Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) is often used by health care providers to test the operational efficiency of new ideas before they are applied in practice. In health care, decisions are related to many variables. Simulation modeling is a way to test changes in the different variables in a computerized environment to decide on ideas for improvements before implementation. Usually simulations encounter assumptions. Simulation results are as accurate as the assumptions. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sensors enable real-time, efficient and accurate collection of data. These data are used by professionals to make decision related to sharing of the resources between hospital departments. This paper proposes a simulation model to support health care decision makers in assessing ideas related to resource utilization based on RFID-based collected data. The study demonstrated the usefulness of combining RFID with computer simulation for exploring the trade-offs between resource utilization and clinic performance. Useful software applications can be built on top of new technologies to contribute to optimizing business processes, reducing data errors and improving the overall applications' results. © 2011 Asian Network for Scientific Information.