Functional Area Catalogue¶

This is a technical inventory of capacity domains, operational constraints and associated conversion archetypes.

You can also explore these on the Functional Areas tab.

Functional Area ID	Conversion Archetype	Operational Constraint	Primary Workload Object	Output Type	Care Setting
BAYS_AE	flow-space occupancy	concurrent occupancy over operational periods	occupancy_hours	bays	AAE
BEDS_AE	flow-space occupancy	concurrent occupancy over operational periods	occupancy_hours	beds	AAE
BEDS_CRITICAL_CARE	bed occupancy	continuous occupancy over 24-hour operational periods	critical_care_bed_days	beds	AAE
BEDS_DAYCASE_ENDOSCOPY_RECOVERY	recovery occupancy	temporary occupancy with intra-day turnover	occupancy_hours	beds	IP
BEDS_DAYCASE_RECOVERY	recovery occupancy	temporary occupancy with intra-day turnover	occupancy_hours	beds	IP
BEDS_DAYCASE_RENAL	session capacity	treatment session throughput per bed per operational day	treatment_sessions	beds	IP
BEDS_INPATIENT_ASSESSMENT	bed occupancy	continuous occupancy over 24-hour operational periods	assessment_bed_days	beds	IP
BEDS_INPATIENT_WARD	bed occupancy	continuous occupancy over 24-hour operational periods	ward_bed_days	beds	IP
BEDS_MATERNITY_ASSESSMENT	recovery occupancy	temporary occupancy with intra-day turnover	occupancy_hours	beds	IP
BEDS_MATERNITY_WARD	bed occupancy	continuous occupancy over 24-hour operational periods	ward_bed_days	beds	IP
LABS_CARDIAC_CATH_PROC	time utilisation	schedulable procedural operating time	procedure_hours	laboratories	IP
ROOMS_ENDOSCOPY_PROC	time utilisation	schedulable procedural operating time	procedure_hours	rooms	IP
ROOMS_INT_RADIOLOGY_PROC	time utilisation	schedulable procedural operating time	procedure_hours	rooms	IP
ROOMS_MATERNITY_BIRTH	bed occupancy	continuous occupancy over 24-hour operational periods	birth_room_bed_days	rooms	IP
ROOMS_OP_CONSULT	appointment utilisation	schedulable clinic consultation time	consultation_hours	rooms	OP
ROOMS_OP_PROC	appointment utilisation	schedulable procedure room time	procedure_hours	rooms	OP
ROOMS_OP_VIRTUAL_CONSULT	appointment utilisation	schedulable clinic consultation time	consultation_hours	rooms	OP
SPACES_HAEM_ONC	treatment-time utilisation	schedulable treatment-space time	treatment_hours	spaces	IP
SPACES_SDEC	flow-space occupancy	concurrent occupancy over operational periods	occupancy_hours	spaces	AAE
THEATRES_DAYCASE_PROC	time utilisation	schedulable procedural operating time	procedure_hours	theatres	OP
THEATRES_INPATIENT_PROC	time utilisation	schedulable procedural operating time	procedure_hours	theatres	IP
THEATRES_OBSTETRIC_PROC	time utilisation	schedulable procedural operating time	procedure_hours	theatres	IP

For three functional areas there is a plausible argument for a different archetype.

BEDS_INPATIENT_ASSESSMENT hinges on whether an assessment unit is operationally best viewed as a temporary flow-through area or an inpatient bed base. Given many assessment units keep patients overnight, accommodate stays exceeding 24 hours, and function as admission avoidance wards, the bed occupancy archetype was selected as the safer default (rather than recovery occupancy). This does make it out-of-step with BEDS_MATERNITY_ASSESSMENT, although average maternity assessment stays are likely to be shorter in duration.

ROOMS_MATERNITY_BIRTH could be represented using a flow-space occupancy approach, as birth activity is naturally expressed as spells multiplied by labour duration. However, birthing rooms are typically occupied continuously by an individual patient, occupancy commonly spans shifts and midnight boundaries, and operational discussions are usually framed in terms of room occupancy rather than throughput. For these reasons the bed occupancy archetype was selected as the most natural operational representation.

BEDS_DAYCASE_RENAL could potentially be modelled using a treatment-time utilisation archetype. However, current service planning assumptions are expressed in terms of treatment sessions per bed/chair per day and annual session throughput. As capacity discussions are typically framed around session capacity rather than treatment duration and utilisation, the session capacity archetype was selected.