Modeling and Simulation of Healthcare Systems: Selected papers on System Dynamics. A book written by experts for beginners (System Dynamics Modeling with Vensim)

Learn System Dynamics by building models—not just reading about them.

This book is designed for readers who want to understand how to create simulation models with System Dynamics and apply them to real-world problems.

Instead of focusing only on theory, it takes a practical, step-by-step approach. Through carefully developed examples, you will learn how to move from an initial problem to a complete simulation model: identifying the key variables, understanding feedback relationships, building stock-and-flow diagrams, defining equations, running simulations, and interpreting the results.
The examples allow you to follow the modelling process progressively and reproduce it yourself, helping you develop the confidence needed to create and analyse your own models.
But learning how to build a model is only part of the challenge. It is equally important to understand how System Dynamics is used in practice. For this reason, the book also includes a selected collection of scientific and applied papers that demonstrate how simulation models can be used to investigate complex problems, test alternative scenarios, and support better decisions.

By combining practical instruction, step-by-step modelling examples, and real applications, this book helps bridge the gap between learning System Dynamics and actually using it.

What you will gain from this book

• A clear understanding of the System Dynamics modelling process.
• Practical experience in building simulation models step by step.
• A better understanding of stocks, flows, feedback loops, delays, and nonlinear relationships.
• Guidance on translating real-world problems into simulation models.
• Experience analysing model behaviour and testing alternative scenarios.
• Insight into how System Dynamics is applied in scientific research and professional practice.
• Real examples showing the possibilities—and limitations—of simulation modelling.

Whether you are a student, researcher, consultant, professional, or decision-maker, this book will help you move beyond simply understanding System Dynamics concepts and begin using them to explore complex systems, evaluate alternatives, and support better-informed decisions.

From understanding a problem to building a model—and from building a model to applying it in the real world.
For Amazon, I would particularly recommend keeping the opening sentence “Learn System Dynamics by building models—not just reading about them.” It immediately communicates the book’s main advantage.

INDEX OF MODELS FOR BEGINNERS (explained step by step)

1. Population Growth
2. A Catastrophe Study
3. The Young Ambitious Worker
4. Development of an Epidemic
5. The Golden Number
6. The Butterfly Effect
7. Building Games and Learning Labs
8. Sensitivity Analysis

INDEX OF PAPERS

Paper 1. Patient Flow and Hospital Staffing Requirements
Paper 2. Forecasting Public Regional Health Needs
Paper 3. Forecasting the Shortage of Neurosurgeons
Paper 4. Simulating Childhood Obesity
Paper 5. Modeling Vector Borne Disease
Paper 6. Generic Model of Contagious Disease
Paper 7. Increasing Patient's Safety Level
Paper 8. Prevention of Rabies and Vaccination Coverage
Paper 9. Deceased Donors for Organ Transplantation
Paper 10. Antimicrobial and Antibiotic Resistance
Paper 11. Cost Treatment of Hepatitis C
Paper 12. Model for Suicide Prevention
Paper 13. Modeling For Human Resources Planning
Paper 14. Scenario Planning Workshop
Paper 15. Stereotypes in Socio-Economic Systems
Paper 16. The Bass Diffusion Model
Paper 17. Evaluate Future Businesses Performance
Paper 18. Group Model Building
Paper 19. Infectious Disease Model
Paper 20. Management of a large public hospital