Abstract
My technical capstone focuses on hospital overcrowding and post-surgery patient progression within a large health system. Hospitals are dealing with increasing patient demand, limited inpatient capacity, and inefficiencies in how patients move through the system. These challenges are especially visible in post-surgery recovery, where patients are assigned to different units based on intended lengths of stay, but in practice do not always follow those timelines. In this project, we analyze how patients are currently flowing through these recovery areas, using patient data and observations to identify where bottlenecks and mismatches occur between expected and actual usage.
This work highlights how system structure shapes outcomes in a direct way. Patient movement is not random, it is the result of policies, constraints, and day-to-day decisions within the hospital. When these structures are not aligned with real conditions, it leads to longer wait times, inefficient use of space, and added strain on staff. By focusing on how the system currently operates, the project shows that understanding flow and utilization is critical to improving both efficiency and patient experience.
My STS research examines how online sportsbook platforms are designed and how those design choices influence user behavior. Using frameworks such as actor-network theory and cultural framing, I analyze how features like gamification, social normalization, and the presentation of money shape how users interact with these platforms. These design elements make betting more accessible, more familiar, and in many cases, less connected to real financial risk in the minds of users.
This research focuses less on improving a system and more on understanding its effects. By looking at current sportsbook platforms, it becomes clear that design decisions are intentional and tied to specific outcomes, particularly increased engagement and spending. Rather than being neutral tools, these platforms influence how users think about risk, money, and behavior, which can have broader impacts on financial and mental well-being.
