What topics would you like to see covered during SAS Global Forum 2017?

[ShelleySessoms]

SAS Global Forum 2016 just ended, but we are already looking ahead to 2017. We are in the planning stages for papers and presentations and would like your input. What topics would you like to see covered next year? Please be as specific as possible. This conference is for YOU, so we want to ensure the presentations hit the mark. 

[DarthPathos]

Hey Shelley!

As someone who is recently getting into this very large area of Simulation, I would love to see a paper on setting up Simulations where I want to model multiple variables (for example, if I'm modelling a Patient Population, i want to simulate data on Age, Length of Time Waiting, Race, and Surgeon who has been booked for the procedure).  I would love a paper that provided step-by-step process of how to create this dataset, including setting up the rules of logic (Surgeon A only does Procedures 1, 2 and 4).  

I'd also like an introduction to optimization, focusing on Health Care - for example, if i need to find out the surgical supplies to consistently have a procedure cost less than $1000 for example.  I don't know this would be considered OR, but I'm struggling to find a way to determine the characteristics of shorter versus longer procedures of the same type.  Two patients go in to see Surgeon A for the same procedure, and one takes 2 hours and the other takes 3 1/2 hours - is there a method to determine what factor(s) could have potentially played a role?  For example, is it the nurse, the anasethesiologist etc. or something else (first case of the day versus last case)?

Pleae let me know if you need more information 🙂

Thanks

Chris