Application of computer simulation analysis to assess the effects of relocating a hospital phlebotomy department.

Background: This study describes a systematic approach to assess the effects of relocating a hospital department.

Methods: Using the phlebotomy service as an example, computer simulation was applied to predict changes in performance indicators, such as patient turn-around time (TAT), when planning a procedural and/or architectural redesign.

Results: Average patient TAT fell from 12 to 8 min, enabling the department to cope with any increase in numbers of patients.

Turn-around time for chemical and endocrinology analyzers studied using simulation.

Simulation can be a means for the laboratory management to investigate the effects of proposed changes in the laboratory. Also, when specifications of analyzers are available one can investigate which analyzer should be purchased to fulfill existing needs. The potential of simulation is shown here by simulating the turn-around time of batched samples under several conditions.