Optimizing ER Flow: Strategies and Insights from An Emirates Case Study

Overcrowding and long wait times in emergency departments are serious issues that can impact patient safety and health. Reduced waiting time, on the other hand, allows the system to provide faster services in such emergencies. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to apply the discrete event simulation method and DMAIC to reduce patient waiting time, overcrowding, and system efficiency in the emergency department of Burjeel Hospital. The results showed that the average waiting time can be reduced from 37.88 minutes to 29.36 minutes. Furthermore, the reduced waiting time helped decrease the number of patients inside the ED by three at one time, leading to less ED overcrowding. Moreover, the overall average system efficiency was improved. In addition, the proposed reconfiguration of Burjeel's Hospital Emergency Department (ED) aims to enhance patient flow and resource utilization. By introducing specialized treatment pathways and nurse allocation strategies, the hospital seeks to address waiting time challenges and improve overall efficiency. Expected outcomes include reduced wait times and improved patient outcomes. Advanced methodologies such as Data Envelope Analysis (DEA) will assist in selecting the most effective scenario for optimized ED performance.