Design and subjects The current study requires time stamps for which patients start and end activities in the department. Personally identifiable information is not needed in this study. Investigators will collect the data from the computer system of the Department. The data will be used for data analysis and the development of simulation and optimization models. With current models, investigators investigate the effects of queueing policies, study workforce planning, and conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis for strategic planning.~Study instruments Data analytics tools and simulation and optimization softwares are needed in this research.~Interventions With simulation and optimization models, investigators examine the impacts of different operational strategies on the performance of the Emergency Department. The Computational experiments will not disturb the actual operations but will provide insights into the effectiveness of the various intervention policies.~Main Outcome Measures Investigators will derive insights from computational experiments and deliver useful recommendations for managing emergency department operations in Hong Kong.
In this project, investigators apply operations research techniques, more specifically data analytics, system simulation, mathematical modelling, and optimization, for analyzing and improving operations in the Emergency Department at the Prince of Wales Hospital. The long term goals of this project are to demonstrate that integrated approach of data analytics and systems thinking is beneficial to health service planning and to extend present work to applications in other health-service systems.