An Agent-Based Simulation Framework for Clinical Management Integrating Fuzzy Logic-Based Patient Satisfaction Evaluation
Abstract
Efficient clinical management relies on coordinated operational workflows and reliable mechanisms for assessing patient experience. This study proposes an agent-based simulation framework for clinical management that integrates a fuzzy logic-based Patient Satisfaction Evaluation Agent (PSEA) within a multi-agent system composed of twelve specialized agents. The framework was implemented using the Mesa simulation platform and evaluated through simulation-based experiments involving 100 patients over 100 simulated time steps. Prior to its integration into the multi-agent system, the fuzzy satisfaction model embedded within the PSEA was independently designed and empirically validated using real survey data collected from 80 patients. The satisfaction scores produced by the fuzzy inference system showed strong agreement with patient-reported evaluations, achieving a correlation coefficient of 0.76 and a mean absolute error of 1.12. At the system level, simulation-derived indicators reveal a balance between adaptive coordination and operational stability. The multi-agent system performed an average of 3.68 ± 1.79 resource reallocation decisions per time step, while 12 out of 100 simulated time steps involved no reallocation, reflecting the emergence of stable operational phases.Overall, the results demonstrate that combining agent-based simulation with a pre-validated fuzzy satisfaction assessment provides a coherent and interpretable framework for supporting coordinated and patient-centered clinical management. Future work will focus on interoperability through standards such as HL7 and FHIR.References
World Health Organization. (2021). Global strategy on digital health 2020–2025. WHO Publications. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240020924
Dohan M S, Califf, C B, Ghosh K, Tan J. Digital transformation in healthcare: New value for a new movement. Health Policy and Technology, 2020, 9(2) :177-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2020.04.003
Herzlinger R E. Why innovation in health care is so hard. Harvard Business Review, 2004, 82(1): 58–66.
Ham, C. Improving the performance of health services: The role of clinical leadership. The Lancet, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13593-3
Batalden P B, Davidoff F. What is “quality improvement” and how can it transform healthcare? Quality and Safety in Health Care, 2007, 16(1): 2–3. https://doi.org/10.1136/qshc.2006.022046
DuBois, K. N.: Deep medicine: how artificial intelligence can make healthcare human again. Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 2019, 71(3) : 199-201.
Jiang, F., Jiang, Y., Zhi, H., and al. (2017). Artificial intelligence in healthcare: Past, present and future. Stroke and Vascular Neurology, 2017, 2(4): 230–243. https://doi.org/10.1136/svn-2017-000101
Yu, K. H., Beam, A. L., & Kohane, I. S. (2018). Artificial intelligence in healthcare. Nature Biomedical Engineering, 2018, 2(1): 719–731. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-018-0305-z
Ode OP, Kalu NC, Abbas S, Arshad A, Inalegwu AI, Koshechkin K. Multi-Agent AI Systems in Healthcare: Systematic Evidence Synthesis via PRISMA of Clinical Decision Support Systems, Robotic Interventions, and Critical Care. International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science (IJLTEMAS), 2025, 14(5) :738–746. https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2025.140500080
Wooldridge, M. (2009). An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems (2nd ed.). John wiley & sons.
Jennings, N. R. (2000). On agent-based software engineering. Artificial Intelligence, 117(2), 277–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0004-3702(99)00107-1
Ferber, J., & Weiss, G. (1999). Multi-Agent Systems: An Introduction to Distributed Artificial Intelligence (Vol. 1). Reading: Addison-wesley.
Cabrera, E., Taboada, M., Iglesias, M. L., Epelde, F., & Luque, E. (2011). Optimization of healthcare emergency departments by agent-based simulation. Procedia computer science, 4, 1880-1889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2011.04.204
Hongqiao, Y., Xihua, L., Fei, W., Weizi, L.: Multi-agent based modeling and simulation of complex system in hospital. In 2009 16th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (2009). https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIEEM.2009.5344312
Zadeh, L. A.: Fuzzy sets. Information and Control, 1965, 8(3): 338-353. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0019-9958(65)90241-X
Bellman, R. E., & Zadeh, L. A.: Decision-making in a fuzzy environment. Management Science, 1970, 17(4), B141–B164. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.17.4.B141
Kumar, A., Jha, P. (2022). Fuzzy logic applications in healthcare: A review-based study. In : Kumar, A., Jha, P., Manasvee. Next Generation Communication Networks for Industrial Internet of Things Systems, pp. 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003355946
Alkafaji, M. K., Al-Shamery, E. S. (2020). A Fuzzy Assessment Model for Hospitals Services Quality based on Patient Experience. Karbala International Journal of Modern Science, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.33640/2405-609X.1734
J. Chen, C. Yi, S. D. Okegbile, J. Cai and X. Shen, "Networking Architecture and Key Supporting Technologies for Human Digital Twin in Personalized Healthcare: A Comprehensive Survey," in IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 706-746, Firstquarter 2024, https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2023.3308717
Richey, R. G., Roath, A. S., Adams, F. G., & Wieland, A. (2022). A responsiveness view of logistics and supply chain management. Journal of Business Logistics, 43(1), 62-91. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbl.12290
Armony, M., Israelit, S., Mandelbaum, A., Marmor, Y. N., Tseytlin, Y., Yom-Tov, G. B., (2015) On Patient Flow in Hospitals: A Data-Based Queueing-Science Perspective. Stochastic Systems 5(1):146-194. https://doi.org/10.1287/14-SSY153
Shortliffe, E.H., & Cimino, J.J. (Eds.). (2021). Biomedical Informatics: Computer Applications in Health Care and Biomedicine. 5th ed. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58721-5
Parasuraman, A., Zeithaml, V. A., & Berry, L. L. (1988). SERVQUAL: A multiple-item scale for measuring consumer perceptions of service quality. Journal of Retailing, 64(1), 12–40. ISSN : 0022-4359.
Whittlestone, J., Nyrup, R., Alexandrova, A., Dihal, K., & Cave, S. (2019). Ethical and societal implications of algorithms, data, and artificial intelligence: a roadmap for research. London: Nuffield Foundation, 1-59.
He, Q., Shen, S., Lv, Z. et al. Data-driven robust outpatient physician scheduling with medical visiting information. Sci Rep 15, 18013 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01654-3
Topol, E.J. (2019). Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again. Basic Books. ISBN: 978-1-5416-4463-2. Hachette UK, mitp, Germany (2019).
Singh, J. A. (2019). Artificial intelligence and global health: opportunities and challenges. Emerging topics in life sciences, 3(6), 741-746. https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20190106
Ndembi N, Rammer B, Fokam J, Dinodia U, Tessema SK, Nsengimana JP, Mwangi S, Adzogenu E, Dongmo LT, Rees B, O'Connor B, Crowell TA, James W, Colizzi V, Ngongo N, Kaseya J. Integrating artificial intelligence into African health systems and emergency response: Need for an ethical framework and guidelines. J Public Health Afr. 2025 Mar 31;16(1):876. https://doi.org/10.4102/jphia.v16i1.876
Wooldridge, M. (1997). Agent-based software engineering. IEE Proceedings-software, 144(1), 26-37. https://doi.org/10.1049/ip-sen:19971026
Bellifemine, F., Poggi, A., Rimassa, G. (2001). Developing Multi-agent Systems with JADE. In: Castelfranchi, C., Lespérance, Y. (eds) Intelligent Agents VII Agent Theories Architectures and Languages. ATAL 2000. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 1986. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44631-1_7
Jin C, Zhang H, Yin L, Zhang Y, Feng S-Z. Optimize data-driven multi-agent simulation for COVID-19 transmission. BMC Bioinformatics, 2022, 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12859-022-04799-4
Munavalli, J. R., Rao, S. V., Srinivasan, A., & van Merode, G. G. (2020). An intelligent real-time scheduler for out-patient clinics: A multi-agent system model. Health Informatics Journal, 26(4), 2383-2406. https://doi.org/10.1177/1460458220905380
Yin Z, Li H, Han X, Ran Y, Wang Z, Dong Z. Clinical decision support system using hierarchical fuzzy diagnosis model for migraine and tension-type headache based on International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Frontiers in Neurology, 2024, 15.
Yager, R. R., & Filev, D. P. (1994). Essentials of fuzzy modeling and control. New York, 388, 22-23. John Wiley.
Rojas-Domínguez A, Lino-Ramírez C, Gutiérrez-Hernández DA, Zamudio V. Fuzzy multi-agent assistance system for elderly care based on user engagement. Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments, 2022, 14(3) :173–194. https://doi.org/10.3233/AIS-210312
Jemal, H., Kechaou, Z., & Ben Ayed, M. (2019). Multi-agent based intuitionistic fuzzy logic healthcare decision support system. Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, 37(2), 2697-2712. https://doi.org/10.3233/JIFS-182926
Ekin, T., Kocadagli, O., Bastian, N., Fulton, L., & Griffin, P. M. (2016). Fuzzy decision making in health systems: a resource allocation model. EURO Journal on Decision Processes, 4(3-4), 245-267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40070-015-0049-x
M. H. Rahmat, M. Annamalai, S. A. Halim and R. Ahmad, "Agent-based modelling and simulation of emergency department re-triage," 2013 IEEE Business Engineering and Industrial Applications Colloquium (BEIAC), Langkawi, Malaysia, 2013, pp. 219-224. https://doi.org/10.1109/BEIAC.2013.6560119
Adepoju, O. O., Opafunso, Z., & Ajayi, M. (2018). Primary health care in south west Nigeria: Evaluating service quality and patients’ satisfaction. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 10(1), 13-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2017.1380585
Neto, A.B.L., Andrade, J.P.B., Loureiro, T.C.J., de Campos, G.A.L., Fernandez, M.P. (2018). Fuzzy Logic Applied to eHealth Supported by a Multi-Agent System. In: Barreto, G., Coelho, R. (eds) Fuzzy Information Processing. NAFIPS 2018. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 831. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95312-0_6
Djam, X. Y., Wajiga, G. M., Kimbi, Y. H., & Blamah, N. V. (2011). A Fuzzy Expert System for the Management of Malaria. International Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences & Technology, 5(2), p. 84.
ANDIGEMA, A.; Tania Cyrielle, N. N.; Lethicia Danaëlle, M. K.; Ekwelle, E. Transforming African Healthcare with AI: Paving the Way for Improved Health Outcomes. Preprints 2024, 2024031610. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.1610.v1
Mendel, J. M.: Uncertain Rule-Based Fuzzy Systems (2001). Introduction and new directions (2nd Edition). 2(1), pp. 72-73 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51370-6
Scrobota I, Iova GM, Marcu OA, Sachelarie L, Vlad S, Duncea IM, Blaga F. An Artificial Intelligence-Based Fuzzy Logic System for Periodontitis Risk Assessment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Bioengineering, 2025, 12(3).https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12030211
Cui H, Tan Q. A fuzzy decision support system for medical service quality management in hospitals. International Journal of Computational Intelligence Systems, 2025, 18:57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44196-025-00773-z
Jennings, N. R., Sycara, K., & Wooldridge, M. (1998). A roadmap of agent research and development. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, 1(1), 7–38. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010090405266
Rehman AU, Abidi MH, Usmani YS, Mian SH, Alkhalefah H. Development of an intuitive GUI-based fuzzy multi-criteria decision model for comprehensive hospital service quality evaluation and indexing. Axioms, 2023, 12(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/axioms12100921
Marashi-Hosseini L, Jafarirad S, Hadianfard AM. A fuzzy based dietary clinical decision support system for patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs). Scientific Reports, 2023, 13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39371-4
Tong, R. M., & Bonissone, P. P. (1980). A linguistic approach to decisionmaking with fuzzy sets. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, 10(11), 716-723. https://doi.org/10.1109/TSMC.1980.4308391
Donabedian, A. (1988). The quality of care: How can it be assessed? Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 260(12), 1743–1748. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1988.03410120089033
Ali ML, Sadi MS, Goni MO. Diagnosis of heart diseases: A fuzzy-logic-based approach. PLoS ONE, 2024, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293112
Toader, C. G., Popescu, N., Teodorescu, I. A., Toader, A. D., & Busnatu, S. (2019, May). Patient flow control using Multi-agent systems. In 2019 22nd International Conference on Control Systems and Computer Science (CSCS) (pp. 244-250). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/CSCS.2019.00047
Hak, F., Santos, M. F. : Effective Clinical Decision Support by Means of the Adoption of OPENEHR Standard (2024). ECIS 2024 Proceedings. 13. https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2024/track18_healthit/track18_healthit/13
Silva, B. M., Rodrigues, J. J., de la Torre Díez, I., López-Coronado, M., & Saleem, K. (2015). Mobile-health: A review of current state in 2015. Journal of biomedical informatics, 56, 265-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2015.06.003
Pellegrino G, Gervasi M, Angelelli M, Corallo A. A conceptual framework for digital twin in healthcare: Evidence from a systematic meta-review. Information Systems Frontiers, 2025, 27:7–32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-024-10536-4
Sindhura, V., Ramya, P., & Yelisetti, S. (2018, April). An IOT based smart mobile health monitoring system. In 2018 Second International Conference on Inventive Communication and Computational Technologies (ICICCT) (pp. 1186-1192). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICICCT.2018.8473078
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31449/inf.v50i12.11643Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors retain copyright in their work. By submitting to and publishing with Informatica, authors grant the publisher (Slovene Society Informatika) the non-exclusive right to publish, reproduce, and distribute the article and to identify itself as the original publisher.
All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution license CC BY 3.0. Under this license, others may share and adapt the work for any purpose, provided appropriate credit is given and changes (if any) are indicated.
Authors may deposit and share the submitted version, accepted manuscript, and published version, provided the original publication in Informatica is properly cited.







