SFU Operations Research Seminar: Sandy Rutherford

The pandemic placed considerable stress on the critical care system in British Columbia. In this talk, I will present simulation modelling analysis done to support the response to the pandemic and ongoing work to improve the ability of the critical care system to respond to future public health crises. The first project that I will discuss is a queuing model to inform ventilator capacity planning during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. I will then describe ongoing development of a discrete event simulation model for the network of major intensive care units (ICUs) in BC. Currently, our model contains admissions and transfers for ICUs and high acuity units at eight hospitals in BC. This model will help to improve patient access to critical care, and inform planning for seasonal influenza and COVID-19.