| Summary: | The top priorities of hospitals are to provide a wide variety of medical treatments and ensure patients receive the best possible care. Within hospitals, the inpatient department is essential, as it provides continuous treatment for patients who require surgery or other forms of medical attention. To meet the growing demand for services, it is necessary for the inpatient department to realistically plan and project its resources. This is particularly relevant for the busy inpatient department of a public teaching hospital in Kelantan. The inpatient department is divided into four zones, each catering to different levels of patient care, Green Zone 1 and 2 are for non-critical patients, Yellow Zone is for semi-critical patients, and Red Zone is for critical patients. Therefore, precise allocation of resources is essential to improving patient flow and services. The study employs System Dynamics simulation to predict the number of inpatient admissions, nurses, and beds required for the next ten years. Results show that Green Zone 1 and 2 will require the addition of one bed every five years, while Yellow Zone and Red Zone will need additional beds every ten years. To improve patient flow, adding new nurses is crucial. Therefore, an additional nurse will be required every five years to meet the growing demand for services in Green Zone 1 and 2. Similarly, to cater to the increasing demand for services in Yellow Zone and Red Zone, an extra nurse will be necessary every eight years. The study's findings will aid the management in making informed decisions that will improve the quality of services and performance in the inpatient department, even within their budget constraints. © 2024 Author(s).
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