INTERACTIVE COMPUTER-AIDED PLANNING: ESTIMATING HEALTH CARE RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS

Abstract

The “Interactive Resource Requirement Estimation Program” is a computer program, designed to support the decisionmaker in health care agencies. The model computes the expected requirements in the inpatient and outpatient sector. These requirements depend on the expected population growth and the development of contacts to health care services, as well as standards derived from the planner's objectives. The program works interactively, incorporating the planner into the process of model parameter definition. By adjusting and readjusting the parameters he can control the output, until feasible requirements are reached. An illustrative model run using health care standards for Austria is given.