Abstract
The Coxian phase-type distribution is a special case of phase-type distribution which represents the time to absorption of a finite Markov chain in continuous time. The distribution is able to capture subjects’ flow through a system but is unable to highlight if there are different pathways caused by an underlying latent factor. Identifying these different pathways will give healthcare providers a deeper insight and understanding of patient flow and allow them to identify and change any potential issues. This paper combines the Coxian phase-type distribution with the continuous-time hidden Markov model to highlight these paths. The theory of combining the Coxian phase-type distribution with the continuous-time hidden Markov model shall be presented along with a simulation study and an application using Italian healthcare data.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of the Operational Research Society |
Early online date | 08 Aug 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Early online date - 08 Aug 2020 |
Keywords
- Continuous-time hidden Markov model
- Coxian phase-type distribution
- Healthcare
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Management Information Systems
- Strategy and Management
- Management Science and Operations Research
- Marketing