Simulating staffing needs for surgical instrument distribution in hospitals

Timely and accurate delivery of surgical instruments to operating rooms is critical for success in surgical operations in hospitals. The National Hospital of Singapore was facing several problems in the process of surgical instrument distribution on ad hoc orders from operating rooms. To solve the problems, the Hospital management considered adopting a new process of surgical instrument distribution on ad hoc orders that involves staffing new healthcare assistants for delivery of surgical instruments to operating rooms. Using computer simulation, this study assessed the efficiency of the new process and recommended the optimal number of healthcare assistants needed for delivery of surgical instruments on ad hoc orders, at which healthcare assistants as well as surgical instruments could be most efficiently utilized. The results show that computer simulation is an effective tool supporting decisions on staffing needs for surgical instrument distribution in hospitals.