A System Dynamics 'Flight Simulator‛ for the Evaluation of Policy Interventions in Patient Pathways for Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma

Other conference contribution, 2012

A system dynamics simulation model was developed as part of building improved long-time planning and policy evaluation in the patient pathways for Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma. An “incidence generator” was used to create patient output sets dependent on different patient delays in seeking treatment. A “flight simulator” was built to test the scenarios against incidence rates, follow-up programmes etc, assessing the trajectories of healthcare costs over time. It is shown that costs escalate significantly unless patient delays addressed and follow-up programmes reviewed.