Performance Engineering, Ambulatory Services, partnered with UAB Clinical Simulation/OIPS to create a computer simulation model prior to the live simulation of the vaccine administration process held in Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium (MCSA). Staff arrival patterns and processing times were estimated by the project team and entered into the computer simulation model. As a result, prior to implementation, the implementation team was able to determine answers to questions regarding seating capacity (Are there enough seats to accommodate people as they are observed 15 minutes post vaccine administration) as well as identify where in the process that potential bottlenecks could build up.Once the computer simulation model was created and run for multiple iterations, results revealed the following:
- Based on anticipated volumes and arrival patterns, seating capacity in MCSA is adequate to accommodate projected volumes during 15 minute waiting period while maintaining social distancing.
- With the original design, bottle necks may occur at the check-in line. This indicated the need to add additional check-in stations and/or reduce the check in time process to better accommodate the anticipated arrival patterns.
- To promote social distancing and optimize seating capacity, the model demonstrated the importance of an orderly one-way flow for employees entering and leaving MCSA one row at a time. This would decrease the opportunity for staff having to criss-cross past each other when entering and/or leaving the auditorium and also minimize total staff travel time.
