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6
Formulating the Required Equations
A discrete event simulation (DES) is a mathematical framework for addressing
a problem—for health technology assessment (HTA), this has to do with the
health and economic implications of employing a new intervention in the
health care system. At the core of this mathematical framework is a set of
equations that expresses numerically the relationships among the various
factors. Although the number and type of equations in a DES vary based on
the nature and complexity of the disease or outcomes modeled, the approach
to building those equations is the same (Table6.1). First, you must nd appro-
priate sources ...