Verifying and Documenting a System Dynamics Model of the US Health Care System

Mercer, Jack L.

Student Work

Verifying and Documenting a System Dynamics Model of the US Health Care System

Público

Advancing understanding of the dynamics in the health care industry promises great rewards from both business and public policy perspectives. This paper introduces a previously formulated but as yet unpublished model that can be useful from either angle. Designed according to system dynamics methodology, the model has been used successfully to promote mutual understanding and improve forecasting in the operating context of a major health insurance provider. The emphasis in this paper is on providing detailed model documentation, both as an aid to future users and as a method for building confidence in model validity and hence in model output. The discussion concludes with suggestions for future improvements.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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