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An Agent-Based Model for the Management of the Emergency Department During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors:
Ramona Elizabeth Galeano Galeano
Dolores Isabel Rexachs del Rosario
Alvaro Wong Gonzalez
Eva Brugada
Cynthia Emilia Villalba Cardozo
Diego Ariel Galeano Galeano
Emilio Luque Fadón

Keywords: simulation, pandemic, COVID-19, agent-based model

Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant mortality in healthcare worldwide. A challenge for hospitals is the management of overcrowding in emergency departments, which can be critical for patient survival and effective patient care. Modeling and simulation can provide a more accurate and effective method to test new management techniques without endangering patients. In this paper, we present an improvement/extension of a previous agent-based model proposal that allows imitating the operation of an emergency department to design a simulator that helps to plan and manage a pandemic situation. We have enhanced the model by adding the variables to patient and staff hospital agents participating in the transmission process; and separated emergency rooms for the infected and non infected to evaluate the effectiveness using different combinations such as laboratory tests, isolation, and other control policies. This modeling can help the configuration of the medical staff, nursing, beds, devices, and patient waiting time management. Furthermore, two health personnel levels (emergency intensivists (seniors) and personnel from different specialties (junior)) have been incorporated in the emergency department to treat COVID patients

Pages: 54 to 62

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2022

Publication date: October 16, 2022

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4537

ISBN: 978-1-68558-001-8

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Dates: from October 16, 2022 to October 20, 2022