Switch counter when idle

[phahn57]

I like the simmer library. A great tool even for not so experienced.

I Want to simulate one scenario. We have an outpatient clinic with long waiting times.
I can already simulate patients flow with different departements, 4 counters and a doorkeeper.

We have to kind of patients:

• first visit (FV)
• second or following visit (WV)
  The latter need less time at the counter.

I now want to simulate the influence of one counter especially for SV-patients.

I have to templates:
WV patients:

...
log_("I arrived at the hospital") |> 
        seize("counter2")  |>       # always use the second counter with priority
        log_(function() {paste("Waited: ", now(hospital) - get_start_time(hospital))})  |> 
        timeout(3) |>       ## minutes at the counter for registration
        release("counter2") |>`
FV patients:

...

log_("I arrived at the hospital") |> 
        select(c("counter1", "counter2"), policy = "shortest-queue-available")  |> ## two counters
        seize_selected()  |>             
        log_(function() {paste("Waited: ", now(hospital) - get_start_time(hospital))})  |> 
        timeout(10) |>       ## minutes at the counter for registration
        release_selected() |>

WV have priority = 1
IMHO counter2 handles WV patients and if idle handle FV patients.

Is there a better way to assign a counter to a special group of patients and if idle give the counter to other patients?

Would a new policy: "if-idle" make a difference?
Thanks for the help.
Peter

[Enchufa2]

First-available is what you are looking for, right?

library(simmer)

t_fv <- trajectory() |> 
  select(c("counter2", "counter1"), policy = "first-available")  |>
  seize_selected()  |>             
  log_(function() paste("Selected: ", get_selected(env)))  |> 
  timeout(10) |> 
  release_selected()
  
env <- simmer() |> 
  add_resource("counter1", 1) |>
  add_resource("counter2", 1) |>
  add_generator("dummy", t_fv, at(0))
env |> 
  run() |> 
  invisible()
#> 0: dummy0: Selected:  counter2

vs.

env <- simmer() |> 
  add_resource("counter1", 1) |>
  add_resource("counter2", 0) |> # no room, but Inf queue
  add_generator("dummy", t_fv, at(0))
env |> 
  run() |> 
  invisible()
#> 0: dummy0: Selected:  counter1

[phahn57]

Yes. Thank you.