Reproducible analytical pipelines (RAP) for healthcare simulation: Quarto-based guide and dual Python/R implementations

Discrete‑event simulation (DES) is a popular technique for modelling healthcare systems, from clinic queues to complex patient pathways. While implementing these models as reproducible analytical pipelines (RAPs) is increasingly recognised as best practice, modellers often struggle to achieve this due to gaps in accessible guidance, skills, and time. This poster presents a set of open resources designed to make RAP for healthcare simulation concrete and achievable. At the centre is a Quarto book that provides a step‑by‑step guide to building DES models as RAPs, covering project set‑up, model inputs, simulation logic, output analysis, experimentation, verification and validation, style, documentation, and sharing. Each chapter combines narrative with executable code and outputs, supporting both Python and R so users can work in their preferred language while seeing how RAP principles transfer across ecosystems. Alongside the book, four repositories provide Python and R implementations of two case studies: a simple synthetic queueing model and a more complex stroke pathway model. Together, these resources provide practical guidance for healthcare modellers to implement DES models as RAPs, drawing on research software engineering practices to develop robust, testable, and reproducible models.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-07-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21701707
Primary Topic
Healthcare Operations and Scheduling Optimization
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Reproducible analytical pipelines (RAP) for healthcare simulation: Quarto-based guide and dual Python/R implementations

F. Alidoost, Alison L. Harper, Robert Challen, Navonil Mustafee et al.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Healthcare Operations and Scheduling Optimization
article

Reproducible analytical pipelines (RAP) for healthcare simulation: Quarto-based guide and dual Python/R implementations

F. Alidoost, Alison L. Harper, Robert Challen, Navonil Mustafee, Thomas Monks, Amy Heather, Thomas Slater
article en

Abstract

Discrete‑event simulation (DES) is a popular technique for modelling healthcare systems, from clinic queues to complex patient pathways. While implementing these models as reproducible analytical pipelines (RAPs) is increasingly recognised as best practice, modellers often struggle to achieve this due to gaps in accessible guidance, skills, and time. This poster presents a set of open resources designed to make RAP for healthcare simulation concrete and achievable. At the centre is a Quarto book that provides a step‑by‑step guide to building DES models as RAPs, covering project set‑up, model inputs, simulation logic, output analysis, experimentation, verification and validation, style, documentation, and sharing. Each chapter combines narrative with executable code and outputs, supporting both Python and R so users can work in their preferred language while seeing how RAP principles transfer across ecosystems. Alongside the book, four repositories provide Python and R implementations of two case studies: a simple synthetic queueing model and a more complex stroke pathway model. Together, these resources provide practical guidance for healthcare modellers to implement DES models as RAPs, drawing on research software engineering practices to develop robust, testable, and reproducible models.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
University of Exeter (GB), University of Bristol (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Healthcare Operations and Scheduling Optimization
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.