Accuracy of computer simulation to predict patient flow during mass-casualty incidents.

Introduction: Although most hospitals have an emergency department disaster plan, most never have been implemented in a true disaster or been tested objectively. Computer simulation may be a useful tool to predict emergency department patient flow during a disaster.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of a computer simulation in predicting emergency department patient flow during a mass-casualty incident with that of a real-time, virtual, live exercise.