Background It is increasingly recognized that healthcare is a complex system with limited resources and many interacting sources of both positive and negative feedback. Discrete-event simulation (DES) is a tool that readily accommodates questions of capacity planning, throughput management and...

This paper provides an overview of, and guidance as to when, why and how to choose and use, different simulation modelling methods as applied to healthcare. What simulation is and why it is necessary in addressing healthcare problems are discussed. In addition, key criteria for choosing an...