A health digital twin framework for discrete event simulation based optimised critical care workflows

Abstract

Digital twins have been used in industries and is now gaining traction in healthcare, particularly in precision medicine. Discrete Event Simulation is a modelling methodology for simulating processes and workflows in healthcare. This paper presents a methodology that integrates these technologies to optimise critical care workflows based on real-time state changes, emphasising patient safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability. This study proposes a novel dual-layer architecture to monitor physical and conceptual entities in the Critical Care Unit. In the current scope, this study aims to establish a methodology using Azure cloud to track treatment workflows in real-time. The results indicated that by reviewing observation forms alone successfully tracked 72% of staff-performed tasks in real-time. This study underscores the potential of digital twins to transform precision care in critical care delivery by bridging the gap between actual and ideal clinical practices.