How to develop more resilient hospitals through agent-based modelling

ABSTRACT

Fully functioning hospitals are the backbone of society. The current design of hospitals in the UK and elsewhere tends to over-emphasise empirical knowledge and experimental research, but limits their ability to cope with new infectious diseases and increasing global connectedness. For example, around one-fifth of UK Covid-19 cases, including the majority of infected hospital healthcare workers, were infected in hospitals. This paper discusses a new agent-based modelling approach to developing more flexible and efficient hospital layouts that are better able to control the spread of infectious disease. © 2021 ICE Publishing. All rights reserved.