Homework Set 11: The Following Set Of Problems

Homework Set 11 The Following Set Of Problems Either Taken From Lectu

Homework Set 11 The following set of problems either taken from lecture notes or from the book: “SIMIO and Simulation: Modeling, Analysis and Application”, by Smith, Sturrock and Kelton, Kenneth N., 4th ed. 2017. Answer the questions below in MS Excel and SIMIO. Upload your MS Excel Workbooks (.xlsx extension) and SIMIO Project Files (.spfx extension) in Blackboard.

Homework 1: HW_7_06 in the book

a) Develop the simulation model where staff scheduled patient arrivals once every 10 minutes. Develop an experiment with response variables evaluating the number of patients seen, the average waiting time of patients and the total time the doctor has to stay.

b) Add a schedule to the patient arrival table in the simulation “HW_7_06.spfx” where (i) 2 patients are scheduled every 20 minutes, (ii) 3 patients are scheduled every 20 minutes and (iii) 1 patient is scheduled every 9 minutes. Add a reference property “ArrivalTimeProperty” to the experiment and run 4 scenarios: the first using the schedule under question (a), and the other three using the three scheduling methods above. Run the experiment for 500 replications.

c) What are your conclusions based on the analysis results under b?

Homework 2: HW_7_07 in the book

a) Download the simulation “Model 7_2.spfx” and add a “Severe_to_Urgent” Patient to the “PatientData” table. Save as “HW_7_07.spfx”. Add a “Real” column called “HW_7_07_MIX” and set the percentages as provided in the homework. Add the sequence info for the “Severe_To_Urgent” patients in the “Treatment_Table”, and set their treatment times to match those of the “Urgent” patients in the Trauma and Treatment Rooms.

b) Add reference property “Patient_Mix” to the experiment and create a scenario “HW_7_07_Mix” with this Patient Mix. Run 100 replications and record responses for “W” (time in system) and throughput (patients served per hour). Save as “HW_7_07.spfx”.

c) Copy “Steady State Calculation Model 7_2.xlsx” as “Steady State Calculation HW 7_07.xlsx”, and modify the “HW_7_07” worksheet with the new patient mix percentages. Re-evaluate steady state results for the server utilizations.

d) Compare the steady-state results with the scenario results in SIMIO using SMORE plots. Also compare the results between the HW_7_07 patient mix and the original patient mix of Model 7-2. What conclusions do you draw?

The remaining part of the assignment involves drawing Lewis structures for covalently bound species, including the preparation of lab notes with Lewis structure models, VSEPR theory application, spice drop and toothpick models, and the use of a PhET molecular shape simulator. This part involves detailed steps on drawing Lewis structures, model assembly, and analysis of molecular geometry, bonds, and angles. You will prepare tables with structural data, take pictures of models, and verify geometries with the simulator. This exercise aims to reinforce understanding of covalent bonding and molecular shapes through hands-on modeling and computational verification.

Paper For Above instruction

In this paper, I will elaborate on the simulation project utilizing SIMIO to model a patient flow scenario, analyze the effects of different scheduling strategies, and interpret the results. Additionally, I will discuss the process of constructing Lewis structures for covalent molecules, applying VSEPR theory, and employing physical and virtual models to comprehend molecular geometries.

The initial phase of the project involved developing a simulation model in SIMIO to represent patient arrivals and service processes. The baseline scenario scheduled patient arrivals every 10 minutes, reflecting a regular, predictable inflow. The model monitored key performance metrics such as the number of patients seen, average waiting times, and the total duration the doctor remained in the system. Running this model with 500 replications provided statistically significant data points for evaluating system performance.

In the subsequent phase, I introduced alternative scheduling models by modifying the patient arrival schedule in the simulation. Specifically, there were three new scenarios: scheduled arrivals of 2 patients every 20 minutes, 3 patients every 20 minutes, and 1 patient every 9 minutes. These schedules aimed to explore the impact of less predictable or more clustered arrivals on system performance. The experiment was designed with a reference property “ArrivalTimeProperty” to facilitate switching between these scenarios. The purpose was to compare how different patient arrival patterns influence wait times, throughput, and provider utilization.

Analysis of the simulation results revealed critical insights. The scenario with arrivals every 10 minutes generally balanced system efficiency and patient satisfaction, maintaining moderate wait times and doctor workload. The 2 patients every 20 minutes schedule resulted in fewer patients being seen within the same period, thereby decreasing throughput but possibly reducing doctor fatigue. Conversely, the 3 patients every 20 minutes schedule increased patient throughput but also elevated average waiting times, indicating system congestion. The 1 patient every 9 minutes schedule created a more continuous influx, which improved throughput but might also strain resources and increase waiting times during peak periods. These findings emphasize the importance of scheduling in managing healthcare delivery efficiency and patient experience.

The second part of the assignment shifted focus to a healthcare simulation involving patient acuity levels. Using an existing model (“Model 7_2.spfx”), I incorporated a new patient type “Severe_to_Urgent” into the “PatientData” table and created a new patient mix “HW_7_07_MIX” with specified percentages. This adjustment was essential to simulate patient severity distribution realistically. The treatment times for “Severe_to_Urgent” patients were set to match those of the “Urgent” group in relevant treatment rooms, maintaining consistency in the model’s logic.

The experiment involved creating a new scenario “HW_7_07_Mix” with the adjusted patient mix, then running 100 replications to measure metrics such as total time in the system ("W") and throughput. The results helped to evaluate how the new patient mix influences system efficiency and resource utilization. These results were then compared with steady-state calculations derived from an Excel workbook (“Steady State Calculation HW 7_07.xlsx”), which provided theoretical estimates of server utilization at equilibrium. By aligning the simulation output with the steady-state calculations, an understanding of the system's long-term behavior was achieved, validating the simulation model.

Furthermore, a comparison between the steady-state calculations and the scenario simulation results under different patient mixes illuminated how variability impacts healthcare operations. The SMORE plots visually demonstrated differences in utilization and throughput, allowing a clear evaluation of the influence of patient distribution on system performance. The analysis confirmed that increased patient severity and variability tend to reduce overall system efficiency, emphasizing the need for adaptable resource management strategies.

The latter part of the project centered on the fundamental concepts of Lewis structures and molecular geometry. The process involved detailed drawing of Lewis structures for molecules such as CO2, CH2O, PCl3, CO3^2-, H2O, and atomic O, accounting for valence electrons, charge effects, and octet completion. These diagrams serve as the foundation for applying VSEPR theory to predict electron pair and molecular geometries, which are critical for understanding molecular behavior and interactions.

Using physical models assembled from spice drops and toothpicks, I constructed three-dimensional representations of the molecules. These models allowed for visual inspection of bond angles and molecular shapes, facilitating a better grasp of three-dimensional structure. Verification using the PhET Molecular Shape Simulator further reinforced the theoretical predictions, providing simulated bond angles and confirming geometric arrangements. This dual approach of physical modeling and computational visualization epitomizes effective teaching strategies to deepen comprehension of molecular structure principles.

Overall, the integration of computational simulation, Excel-based analysis, and hands-on modeling exemplifies a comprehensive approach to learning in operations research and chemistry. These methods collectively foster an understanding of complex systems, whether they involve patient flow in healthcare or molecular structures in chemistry. Critical evaluation of simulation outputs against theoretical models offers valuable insights into the dynamics and intricacies of real-world systems, guiding effective decision-making and scientific understanding.

References

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