Abstract
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is investigating the use of discrete event simulation (DES) modeling techniques to assess risk in the performance of medical treatments that use radioactive byproducts. Pursuant to this interest, Micro Analysis and Design, Inc. developed a DES model to determine the feasibility and utility of simulation for assessing the effects of human, hardware, and software errors in these types of medical processes. Recent research by the NRC resulted in a comprehensive task and error analysis of Remote Afterloading Brachytherapy cancer treatment. The results of this analysis formed the basis for the DES model. The model demonstrates how a DES can be used to evaluate the effects of changes in procedures for delivering the medical treatment and responding to hardware and software failures could reduce risk to patients.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.