Managing Performance In Complex Healthcare Systems
Speaker: Ashok Kanagarajah, ITEE
When: 2008-05-21 15:00:00
Venue: 78-622
Host: Prof Peter Lindsay
Abstract:Healthcare is a complex environment that is rarely conducive to analysis in
laboratory or field experiments. Effective interventions that aim to improve
healthcare require an understanding of the intricate web of interactions
involved. The need for this increased comprehension necessitates the use of
alternative robust means of analysis - one such being agent-based modelling
and simulation.
This research takes the view that healthcare systems exhibit behaviours
similar to those of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) identified in the
literature. Such systems consist of multiple semi-autonomous sub-systems,
are typically dynamic and tend to evolve and co-evolve over time as whole
and component parts. As part of this evolution, CAS displays patterns of
behaviours known as emergence, facilitated by natural selection and feedback
mechanism.
The prediction of emergence within healthcare systems is not straightforward
but complex and as such act as deterrent to improvement activities. This
research will look at agent based simulation techniques to develop a view of
predicting emergence. A review of the literature indicates that modelling
and simulation has been used within healthcare, however for the most part
the simulations represent specific static situations, and little attention
has been paid to the evolving nature of healthcare. The simulations
developed for the specific purpose tend to become futile once the conditions
change.
Agent based simulations provide more robust framework to modify and adopt
conditions than traditional simulations. Although agent based simulations
have demonstrated capability within defence and supply chain applications
there seem to have been few attempts to use agent based simulation within
healthcare. This research will focus on assessing the feasibility of using
agent based simulation to model an integrated healthcare management system
(e.g., Hospital/s) and their behaviours and improvement techniques.††â€
Biography:Ashok currently work as a management consultant with Deloitte. His previous
industrial and consulting experience is over 15 years with BHP,
PricewaterhouseCoopers & AspenTechnology (A software vendor for
petro-chemical companies). His industrial experience covers across the
mining & metals, consumer products goods, chemical and retail industries and
recently into health care sector.
His past work has covered re-engineering the operational process to drive
and deliver sustainable business improvements using lean,
supply-chain-management principles, statistical process control
methodologies and business dynamic simulations. He has been involved in the
development of feasibility studies, system selection, business improvement,
application development and implementation.
His current interest cover how to apply manufacturing best practices to
mining sector and service industries such as healthcare. Ashok holds degrees
in B.Eng and M.Eng.Sci in Chemical Engineering from university of Queensland
and Master of Business Administration.
Type: Ph.D confirmation
Contact:Prof Peter Lindsay, seminar host (p.lindsay@uq.edu.au)
or Guido Governatori (ITEE seminar co-ordinator)
(guido@itee.uq.edu.au)