Utilizing ambulatory care units at optimal levels has become increasingly important to hospitals from both service and business perspectives. With the inherent variation in hospitals due to unique procedures and patients, performing capacity analysis through analytical models is difficult without making simplifying assumptions. Many hospitals calculate efficiency by comparing total operating room minutes available to total operating minutes used. This metric both fails to account for the required non-value added tasks between surgeries and the delicate balance necessary between having patients ready for surgery when an operating room becomes available, which can result in increased waiting times, and maximizing patient satisfaction. We present a general methodology for determining the maximum capacity within a surgical suite through the use of a discrete-event simulation model. This research is based on an actual hospital concerned with doctor/resource acquisition decisions, patient satisfaction improvements, and increased productivity.
