SIMULATION MODELING AS A TOOL TO EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE CONFIGURATIONS OF CLINICAL LABORATORIES

Due to manifold and complex interactions in a clinical laboratory, it is difficult to assess how organizational changes or new equipment may affect overall performance. We present a simulation system that is ab le to model arbitrary configurations of clinical laboratories. Drawing on the experience of a fixed configuration model we have developed a flexible simulation model. This model has been validated by several la boratories of different size and organizational structure. Using the m odel the laboratory management is able to judge whether the additional cost for new equipment may be justified by better performance or whet her performance can be maintained when measures of cost-cutting are ta ken.