An Investigation of Markov Chains and their Application to Hospital Patient Flow

Authors

Sarah Padrutt, The College of WoosterFollow

Abstract

Markov chains can be used to model patient flow in hospital settings. In this study, six Markov chain models are constructed to model patient flow in the emergency department of the Wooster Community Hospital, a small hospital in Wooster,Ohio. The Markov chains are used to predict long term patient movement within the department. Additionally, sensitivity analysis suggests hospital efficiency maybe improved by reducing the time between each patients report is sent and when the patient leaves the emergency room. A compartmental model is presented as and additional way to model patient flow and is constructed to model patient flow throughout the Wooster Hospital.

Advisor

Frazier, Marian

Department

Mathematics

Recommended Citation

Padrutt, Sarah, "An Investigation of Markov Chains and their Application to Hospital Patient Flow" (2018). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 7940.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/7940

Disciplines

Applied Mathematics | Other Applied Mathematics

Keywords

Markov chain, compartmental model, patient flow

Publication Date

2018

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis