An integrated HFMEA simulation-based multi-objective optimisation model to improve the performances of hospitals: A case study

ABSTRACT There are many problems with hospital departments that decrease patients’ satisfaction and hospitals’ performance. Although there are many qualitative and quantitative methods to improve related performances, some of them consider a single department and the rest don't consider related priorities. Therefore, this paper proposes an integrated model based on Six Sigma to consider the performances of all departments with priorities based on experts’ knowledge. This model utilizes qualitative methods including fishbone diagrams and Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis to find problems and their priorities based on experts’ knowledge and data. Then, quantitative methods including a mathematical model, Discrete Event Simulation, and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II are utilized to find solutions for preferred problems as a simulation-based multi-objective optimization model. Based on a case study in a well-known general hospital, the proposed model finds the hospital’s most important problems and represents the impacts of different improvement plans before implementation.