Event

Discrete event simulations can represent the complex dynamics of today’s clinical practice, but novice modelers might perceive them as complex and therefore decide not to utilize their potential.

To overcome this challenge and contribute to a new generation of modelers familiar with the flexibility offered by discrete event simulation, this course will cover all the basics up to developing and analyzing discrete event simulations. Using ISPOR-SMDM Modeling Task Force Reports as a starting point, this course will discuss the practical steps involved in the modeling process, different types of evidence that can be utilized, alternative approaches for implementing competing events, and how to reflect different types of patient variation. A single case study will be used throughout several hands-on exercises, in which a simple three-state discrete event simulation will be extended into a comprehensive health economic model, and probabilistic analysis is performed. R will be used for all exercises, and several ready-to-use scripts will be provided. Therefore, participants will not only leave the course with a running discrete event simulation, but they will also be equipped with the knowledge and tools required to develop discrete event simulations for their own projects. Participants who wish to gain hands-on experience need to install R and RStudio on their computer prior to the course. Further information and prereading materials will be provided closer to the course date.