Department: Biomedical Informatics

E-mail: julio.facelli@utah.edu
Address: 5750 HSEB
Phone: 581-4080

Research Title: Analysis of Clinical Workflow Disruptions Using Agent Based Modeling

Research Description:

Analysis of clinical workflow disruptions using Agent Based Modeling: It is well known that the introduction of computer tools in a clinical setting has the potential to adversely affect the normal workflow. It has been documented that in many cases IT (information technology) implementations fail or show very poor adoption levels due to severe disruptions introduced into the existent clinical workflow. There numerous a posteriori studies of these effects, but there are no methods to predict a priori the expected effects. We believe that simulations using Agent Based Modeling can be a powerful tool to better understand the nature of these disruptions and eventually develop strategies to minimize them. Agent Based Modeling methods, developed in the last decade or so, have been applied successfully to model other complex stochastic processes involving human behavior, like pandemics (Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Jul 1;168(1):1-8), social psychology (Pers Soc Psycho l Rev. 2007 Feb;11(1):87-104) and business complexity (http://www.us.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Business/Management/StrategicManagement/?view=usa&ci=9780195172119). We believe that is timely to explore the potential of simulations based on Agent Based Modeling for the analysis clinical workflows.

This project will establish the feasibility of using Agent Based Modeling to simulate clinical workflows and develop some minimalistic scenarios for introduction of computer based tools that can be compared with the student previous experience in clinical settings. The student(s) will learn the basic principles of Agent Based Modeling and use the Repast tool kit (http://repast.sourceforge.net/index.html) developed by Argonne National Laboratory to set some the simulation scenarios. The students will have access to the resources at the Center for High Performance Computing to run large model simulations if necessary.

Students should be proficient in the use of computers, but not extensive programming experience is needed.

Does this research involve human subjects or animals? No

If yes, what is the protocol number?

10/2008