Simulation Modeling for Health Care Operations: User-centered Design Needed!
Simulation modeling in health care has been touted as a solution to many problems, such as scheduling, wait times, or staffing. While researchers have argued for stakeholder involvement, few have described how to implement user-centered design (UCD) to develop, evaluate, and implement simulations for health care. In this paper, we explain how UCD theory can address common issues found in the health care simulation literature. We illustrate our points using experience applying UCD to develop a vaccination clinic simulation and provide additional UCD strategies relevant to the design of simulation models for health care.