Eric Miller

Simulation has been used in various aspects of healthcare delivery. One significant area has been the role of computer modeling and simulation use in the research and development of emergency care delivery systems. In this chapter, we examine the use and application of Colored Petri Nets (CPNs) for modeling and simulating healthcare workflow processes. Specifically, we focus on modeling patient flow to an operating room either as an emergency or as elective surgery. The model accounts for various resources and their utilization. We use hierarchical Colored Petri Nets with modules and the associated graphical integrated development environment called CPN Tools for creating and simulating the model. The hierarchy and module concepts of CPNs allow the modeling of large and complex systems in an incremental and top-down manner. We use the built-in and customizable monitoring facilities of the CPN Tools to selectively collect data during simulation runs and generate performance reports.