Simulating the impact of an online digital dashboard in emergency departments on patients length of stay

Abstract: Overcrowding at EDs is a world known problem which negatively affects the quality of medical care. It is evident, for example, by long patients’ waiting times. EDs frequently use average patients’ length of stay (LOS) as a performance indicator. Long LOS is commonly correlated with overcrowding. In this research, a prototype of an electronic online digital dashboard, termed operational BI, was developed following the Design Science Research methodology. The system is targeted to be used by the ED staff. Simulation was used to assess if such a system, which displays ED’s critical data in a dashboard visualisation, can decrease LOS, thereby ease EDs’ overcrowding. Six scenarios were simulated, depicting various use patterns. The results show a potential decrease of 34–44% in average LOS, depending on the use pattern. These are promising results that call for further, real-world examination of the system. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.