Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41094483›Full record

ArticleHealth research policy and systems2025

Implementing system dynamics in hospital services to improve operational efficiency: An empirical research study.

Hongxin Huang, Xiaojun Huang, Zihan Zhang, Hao Chen, Wei Wei, Wei Lu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health research policy and systems, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Hongxin HuangSchool of Public Health, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Street 3, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China.
Xiaojun HuangSchool of Public Health, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Street 3, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China.
Zihan ZhangSchool of Public Health, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Street 3, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China.
Hao ChenSchool of Public Health, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Street 3, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China.
Wei WeiHainan Women and Children's Health Care Center, Haikou, 570100, China.
Wei LuSchool of Public Health, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Street 3, Haikou, 571199, Hainan, China. hy0205044@muhn.edu.cn.

Funding

Academic Enhancement Support Program of Hainan Medical University XSTS2025071National Natural Science Foundation of China 72204069
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study investigates operational efficiency in public general hospitals using a system dynamics (SD) model, focusing on resource allocation, patient flow and policy interventions. It explores the interactions between human resources, financial subsidies and patient visitation rates and their impact on hospital performance.

methodsAn SD model was developed to simulate various scenarios, incorporating data on hospital capacity, staffing and financial inputs, along with patient flow dynamics. Key performance metrics, including bed occupancy rate (BOR), average length of stay (ALOS), average cost per visit and workload index, were analysed under different policy scenarios.

resultsSimulation of four policy scenarios revealed that increased fiscal subsidies (scenario 2) consistently improved operational efficiency by reducing ALOS, staff workload and cost per visit. In contrast, scenarios involving human resource cuts or rapid patient growth triggered adverse feedback loops that undermined performance.

conclusionsThe SD model effectively captures the dynamic interactions within hospital operations and enables assessment of policy interventions over time. Enhanced government funding contributes most positively to efficiency, while demand surges and resource reductions introduce system strain and performance trade-offs.

Indexed as

Efficiency, OrganizationalHospital AdministrationHospitals, GeneralHospitals, PublicBed OccupancyEmpirical ResearchFinancing, GovernmentHealth PolicyHospital Bed CapacityHumansLength of StayResource AllocationWorkloadEmpirical researchOperational efficiencyPolicy simulationPublic hospitalSystem dynamics model

Identifiers

PMID41094483
PMCPMC12522939

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.