GNYHA and the Binghamton University Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering & Applied Science recently cohosted a three-workshop series on systems science/engineering techniques to adapt, innovate, and redesign health care in the age of COVID-19. The Watson School is a frequent collaborator with GNYHA’s Health Care Systems Engineering Community of Practice (CoP), a forum for systems engineers to learn about projects their peers are working on and share innovations and best practices. GNYHA members can review workshop recordings and download materials using the links below.
- Design Thinking in Health Care details a new way of working that addresses real-world problems. Described as a discipline grounded in values and principles, it involves thought-diverse teams using innovative frameworks to offer customers signature experiences. Design Thinking can surface unmet needs; reduce the risks associated with debuting new products, processes, and services; and generate revolutionary solutions.
- Introduction to Agile focuses on the Agile project management methodology, which originated in the software industry and is a collaborative way of working that helps teams design, develop, and deliver solutions that can help health care organizations respond more quickly and effectively to changing customer needs, rival offerings, and regulatory guidelines.
- Using SIR Modeling for COVID-19 Capacity Planning highlights how to apply and modify spreadsheet-based SIR models for a hospital’s population and use the output to determine staffing, bed allocation, and other resources such as personal protective equipment, and ventilators. SIR (Susceptible, Infected, and Recovered) modeling is an epidemiological technique that can help predict demand at the hospital level. Workshop materials include a spreadsheet template and a self-study exercise to calculate key capacity metrics for your hospital.
The Design Thinking and Agile workshops were hosted by Michael Testani, the Director of Industrial Outreach and Continuing Professional Education and adjunct faculty at The Watson School. Mr. Testani teaches Systems Design, Agile Engineering & Design Thinking, and Project Management classes for the System Science and Industrial Engineering Department.
Using SIR Modeling was hosted by Asala Erekat, a PhD candidate in the System Science and Industrial Engineering Department at Binghamton University and a graduate research associate in the Department of Operations, Analytics, and Optimization at Mount Sinai Health System.