Efficient health care service delivery using network analysis: a case study of Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper addresses challenges with prompt health care delivery using Network Analysis of Critical Path Model (CPM) to plan the hospital capacity with a view to achieving prompt health care service delivery. Hospital activities were identified as either critical and non critical, time or cost consideration was factored in. In all, 16 state health institutions were purposively selected on the basis of most equipped from 55 state health institutions. Data on patients’ arrival and departure were observed and recorded for a period of six months. This was subjected to further analysis to identify the most important activities (critical path) and less important together with their time duration. The average total time spent in the hospital was 43 minutes but with effective capacity planning using network analysis the total time was reduced to 18 minutes and the critical path (activities) were identified to be: A - Card section, F - Medical Doctor and H – Medical Team.

Keywords: Critical Path Model (CPM), Capacity Planning (CP), Hospital Services, Network Analysis