Modeling complex systems where different aspects of the system are captured by different views have been reported as hard. Usually, the required knowledge to do so is distributed among various stakeholders. Bringing them together is not an obvious operation. In this chapter, we examine some salient aspects of that issue. Three concerns are scrutinized: The heterogeneous nature of healthcare systems M&S, in terms of spatial and temporal scales involved; the importance of a visual language to capture all the modeling knowledge while interacting with experts from various domains: we introduce the High Level Language for System specification (HiLLS), a system modeling language for constructing multi-analysis system models, which can be seen as a visual language for DEVS; the hybrid nature of healthcare systems M&S, where hybridization occurs both at conceptual and operational levels. We also have a look on participatory modeling (PM) as a way to involve nonexperts at the conceptual level of the modeling process in order to increase the set of available knowledge for making useful decisions.

Chapter Contents:

• 4.1 Scale-driven modeling
• 4.2 HiLLS modeling
• 4.3 Multi-paradigm modeling
• 4.4 Participatory modeling
• 4.4.1 M&S knowledge
• 4.4.2 Knowledge management for MPM&HS
• 4.5 Summary
• References

Inspec keywords: formal specification; health care; discrete event systems; large-scale systems; discrete event simulation; high level languages

Other keywords: system modeling language; DEVS; multianalysis system models; healthcare systems simulation; healthcare systems modelling; discrete event system specification; complex systems; participatory modeling; heterogeneous nature; simulation-based healthcare management; high level language for system specification

Subjects: Medical administration; Formal methods; Combinatorial mathematics; High level languages