Using healthcare simulation in space planning to improve efficiency and effectiveness within the healthcare system.

Healthcare professionals are continuously being challenged to address the triple aim necessary for effective patient care: improving the quality and satisfaction of patients, improving the health of populations, and reducing per capita cost of healthcare. Today, innovation and cost-effective methods are a requirement to meet the triple aim given the current economic climate and financial limitations. Healthcare simulation is currently underutilised, particularly during the space or facility planning process in healthcare. This position paper will describe the process of implementing space simulations that were conducted between 2016 and 2018 in six different clinical settings that identified patient and provider safety concerns, and patient and provider needs. Simulation design and development along with the methodology for data collection and data analyses will be presented. Qualitative results will be presented to demonstrate the impact of the use of simulation to prevent critical and non-critical safety events. © Operational Research Society 2019.