Use of simulation technique in maternity care analysis

Abstract A simulation model using SLAM II has been proposed to study capacity problems in an eighteen bed maternity care unit of a 426 bed tertiary care hospital. The model indicated that the capacity of the unit could be increased by 35% to 40% by reducing the postpartum length of stay for vaginal delivery patients from 41 hours to 24 hours. The model also showed that the average occupancy of the unit should not exceed 65% in order to maintain a 95% service level.