A simulation model of a diagnostic radiology department

Abstract Unlike most of the component parts of a general hospital, which are designed to cater for patients with particular kinds of illnesses, the services of diagnostic radiology departments are utilised by almost every category of patient which enters the hospital system. Hence, efficient utilisation of X-ray facilities is a necessary condition for overall hospital efficiency. Because of the diversity of inputs and range of services provided a radiology department represents a very complex system. In order to assess the effect of various proposed operating policies, using a number of criteria, a simulation model (SIMRAD) of such a system has been constructed. The model has been tested in one particular hospital but it is believed that SIMRAD is sufficiently general to allow it to be utilised in other environments with the minimum of adaptation. This paper concentrates on a description of the system factors identified, the model structure, the input required and the output provided. The detail provided should allow the model to be applied by other workers in this field. A selection of experiments that have been performed is mentioned but detailed results will be given in another paper.