SIMT: A holistic framework for embedding simulation into the health care systems.

Simulation and Modelling (S&M) have been proven as very valuable tools in the health care sector. In recent years, the sector has experienced a rapid increase in applications. However, it appears that health care organisations have failed to sustain the use of these powerful techniques. In this research, an extensive literature review is carried out to identify the main challenges of the use of health care simulation and the underlying barriers of implementing S&M in the sector. In order to address these issues, it identifies the need to fully embed S&M into the sector through a systematic approach. However, the literature in this subject area has not provided such a holistic approach to the use of simulation.With the view to embed these techniques in health care decision making processes, this research develops a new framework, known as SIMulation Thinking (SIMT), to overcome the identified challenges and barriers. SIMT includes five key components: infrastructure, management, culture change, methodology and modelling. Whilst the SIMT framework presents the important elements that need to be considered to make S&M mainstream tools, this research also presents an implementation framework which transforms SIMT into a practical and applicable approach to embed S&M in health care organisations. The implementation framework includes two main stages: planning stage and action stage. Questionnaire and case study approach are conducted to validate the usefulness and importance of the SIMT components and the proposed implementation framework. The questionnaire is used to understand how the selected group of experts consider the SIMT components and the planning stage of the implementation framework as a valuable guideline. To validate the action stage of the implementation framework, this research uses the case study approach which introduces the proposed methodologies and modelling best practices into a local hospital. The feedback received from the hospital is used to evaluate the usefulness and practicable of the proposed approach.