Spreading simulation about: Using the excell spreadsheet for discrete simulation of patient throughput

Simulation’s long-standing popularity as an applied technique has contributed to the availability of many specialised simulation packages. However the increasing availability and extending capability of spreadsheet software holds out the opportunity for simulation’s application to a wider context by a larger participant group. As an illustration this paper describes the use of the Excel spreadsheet to simulate patient throughput in a small outpatients department in the UK. The details provided here form a useful, non-trivial case study suitable for use in a classroom environment.