Integrating Energy Efficiency into Healthcare Operations: A Discrete-Event Simulation Approach for Surgical Pathways

Background/Objectives: Healthcare facilities are among the most energy-intensive public buildings, yet hospital decision-support models rarely integrate energy-related performance indicators alongside operational metrics. This study aims to address this gap by developing a discrete-event simulation framework capable of jointly evaluating clinical efficiency and energy consumption in elective orthopedic surgical pathways. Methods: A comprehensive discrete-event simulation model was developed to r