Evaluating control in a surgical progressive-care system

To be able to optimise performance variables such as the rates of bed-occupancy, staff utilisation and the number of delayed or cancelled admissions in any healthcare units the rate at which patients are admitted to that unit must be controlled. This paper proposes a method for evaluating admissions control that may subsequently be used as the basis for improving the control of admissions. The method is demonstrated through the presentation and discussion of results from an experimental study in a hospital environment comprising a suite of operating theatres, a post-operative recovery room and two intensive-care units.