Discrete-Event Simulation and System Dynamics for Management Decision Making

13Multiscale Modelling for Public Health Management: A Practical Guide

Rosemarie Sadsad^1,2,3 and Geoff McDonnell^3,4

¹Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology – Public Health, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

²Sydney Medical School, Westmead, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

³Centre for Health Informatics, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

⁴Adaptive Care Systems, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

13.1 Introduction

System modelling and simulation is increasingly applied to manage chronic persistent problems, including public health. Simulation models of complex and multilevel organisational systems like health care are often abstracted at one level of interest. There are many challenges with developing simulation models of systems that span multiple organisational levels and physical scales. We describe several theoretical and conceptual frameworks for multilevel system analysis and present an approach for developing multiscale and multimethod simulation models to aid management decisions. We use simulation models to illustrate how management actions, informed by patterns in stock levels, govern discrete events and entities, which, collectively, change the flow mechanism that controls stock levels.

13.2 Background

Public health management is complex and inherently multilevel. The determinants of public health are highly interrelated and context dependent ...