A Markov Chain Model for Workflow Analysis in Operating Rooms

Improving workflow efficacy in operating rooms (OR) is of significant importance for hospital management. Although extensive studies have been carried out in OR scheduling, efficient methods for workflow analysis are missing in current literature. To bridge this gap, in this letter, a Markov chain model is presented to evaluate the workflow performance in ORs. It is shown that such a model can provide efficient analysis with acceptable accuracy. In addition, a case study in a large public hospital in Beijing, China, illustrates the applicability of the method.