JOS SI 2014 - Journal of Simulation Special Issue on Simulation for Sustainable Healthcare

The Journal of Simulation (JOS), an official journal of The UK Operational Research Society, aims to publish methodological and technological advances in the application of simulation modelling-related theory and practice. JOS publishes material in a wide range of domains, including manufacturing, service, defence and healthcare, as it seeks to interest and provoke discussion within the wider simulation community. JOS has recently been accepted by Thomson Reuters for indexing and inclusion in the Science Citation Index (SCI). JOS will publish a special issue on simulation for achieving sustainable development in healthcare. The call for paper follows:
The World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission)defines sustainable development as the “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (WCED, 1987). In the context of sustainable development, the concept of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) of sustainability is important. TBL refers to the consideration of economic, social and environmental responsibilities with respect to decision making and setting strategic priorities. The focus of this special issue is on simulation for sustainable healthcare.
There is potential for huge efficiency savings in healthcare through use of computer simulation (Dowler, 2011). However, the scope of systems’ modelling and simulation (M&S), which hitherto focussed predominantly on productivity-related measures, will need to be extended to incorporate sustainability-related criterion since there is a growing awareness among the organisational stakeholders that their success is profoundly dependent on creating a harmony among the TBL of sustainability.
A cross-industry review of literature on "modelling for sustainability" suggests that there has been an unequal treatment of economic, social and the environmental factors in studies employing computer simulation. For example, M&S studies in nonhealthcare topics such as sustainable manufacturing and green supply chain have mostly neglected the social factors pertaining to sustainability. However, healthcare is a welfare-oriented citizen-centric service and therefore healthcare modelling cannot ignore the social factors pertaining to sustainability. Further, a review of literature has shown that although the application of simulation in healthcare has dramatically increased over the years, there is arguably a dearth of studies which have considered the TBL of sustainability. Thus, the aim of this special issue is to solicit high quality papers that focus on the holistic and long term view of modelling healthcare systems, with particular emphasis on establishing a harmony between the economic, social and environmental objectives of sustainability.
The special issue editors invite contributions in conceptual, methodological and technical advances to modelling for sustainability in healthcare. Studies that have applied M&S for practical problem solving and have considered the TBL of sustainability are also welcome. The review process will be the same as that used by the journal. Topics suitable for this special issue include, but are not limited to, the following:
? Cross-domain review of literature pertaining to M&S for sustainability, with the objective of furthering sustainable healthcare simulation.
? Conceptual models and frameworks to guide the development of models for sustainable healthcare. Empirical validation of the same.
? Methodological aspects pertaining to modelling for sustainability, for example, the use of hybrid simulation models that incorporate both productivity and sustainability?related criterion.
? Studies that report on the application of simulation for sustainable dementia care, sustainable care for the elderly, among others.
? Sustainable healthcare supply chains.
? Studies that increase awareness of sustainable healthcare through use of Serious Games in a teaching environment.