AN AGENT - BASED SIMULATION MODEL OF A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM: THE SPECIALISTIC NETWORK IN THE AREA OF TURIN

ABSTRACT The healthcare domain is characterized by strong interrelationship betweenits components among others hospitals, both public and private doctors and private laboratories among and, obviously, patients The healthcare domain is characterized by strong interrelationships between its components among. Networks linking these agents emerge as a consequence of such connections. From a policy-making perspective, it then turns out to be relevant a clear understanding of the networks involved in order to evaluate the appropriate measures that should be undertaken given a specific target. This work attempts to endow with a powerful tool whoever is interested in such connections. To build it up, we have extended our reasoning to the simulating horizon, which has allowed us to consider a great number of situations that would have been otherwise impossible to face. The simulating software we have been using to support our work is called ¿NetLogo¿, an agent-based programming language and integrated modelling environment. One of the reasons why it is so useful is the graphical interface it is characterized by, in which the external user is able to modify switches, sliders, choosers, inputs, and other interface elements in order to explore the model in the way he prefers. The model we have developed analyse the emergence of such networks amongst patients and agents providing cures in the Turin district, with particular attention to those networks emerging as a consequence of the specialist cures.