Coverage versus response time objectives in ambulance location
Abstract Background This paper deals with the location of emergency medical stations where ambulances waiting to be dispatched are parked. The literature reports a lot of mathematical programming models used to optimize station locations. Most studies evaluate the models only analytically applying t...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2021-07-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Health Geographics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12942-021-00285-x |
| _version_ | 1818456506313474048 |
|---|---|
| author | Ľudmila Jánošíková Peter Jankovič Marek Kvet Frederika Zajacová |
| author_facet | Ľudmila Jánošíková Peter Jankovič Marek Kvet Frederika Zajacová |
| author_sort | Ľudmila Jánošíková |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background This paper deals with the location of emergency medical stations where ambulances waiting to be dispatched are parked. The literature reports a lot of mathematical programming models used to optimize station locations. Most studies evaluate the models only analytically applying the same simplifying assumptions that were used in the modelling phase. In addition, they concentrate on systems operating one type of emergency units in homogeneous urban areas. The goal of our study is to identify which optimization criterion the emergency medical service (EMS) outcomes benefit from the most and which model should be used to design tiered systems in large urban–rural areas. Methods A bi-criteria mathematical programming model is proposed. The criteria include the accessibility of high-priority patients within a short time limit and average response time to all patients. This model is being compared to the p-median model with a single response time objective and to a hierarchical pq-median model that considers two different vehicle types. A detailed computer simulation model is used to evaluate the solutions. The methodology is verified in the conditions of the Slovak Republic using real historical data on 149,474 ambulance trips performed in 2015. Results All mathematical models improve EMS performance by relocating some stations compared to the current distribution. The best results are achieved by the hierarchical median-type model. The average response time is reduced by 58 s, the number of calls responded to within 15 min is increased by 5% and the number of high-priority calls responded to within 8 min by 6%. Conclusions The EMS systems operating in heterogeneous areas should be designed to minimize response times, and not to maximize the number of calls served within a given time limit. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T22:27:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1a3277b778cf4641a32232bd361e27f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1476-072X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T22:27:45Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Geographics |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a3277b778cf4641a32232bd361e27f22022-12-21T22:45:18ZengBMCInternational Journal of Health Geographics1476-072X2021-07-0120111610.1186/s12942-021-00285-xCoverage versus response time objectives in ambulance locationĽudmila Jánošíková0Peter Jankovič1Marek Kvet2Frederika Zajacová3Faculty of Management Science and Informatics, University of ŽilinaFaculty of Management Science and Informatics, University of ŽilinaFaculty of Management Science and Informatics, University of ŽilinaFaculty of Management Science and Informatics, University of ŽilinaAbstract Background This paper deals with the location of emergency medical stations where ambulances waiting to be dispatched are parked. The literature reports a lot of mathematical programming models used to optimize station locations. Most studies evaluate the models only analytically applying the same simplifying assumptions that were used in the modelling phase. In addition, they concentrate on systems operating one type of emergency units in homogeneous urban areas. The goal of our study is to identify which optimization criterion the emergency medical service (EMS) outcomes benefit from the most and which model should be used to design tiered systems in large urban–rural areas. Methods A bi-criteria mathematical programming model is proposed. The criteria include the accessibility of high-priority patients within a short time limit and average response time to all patients. This model is being compared to the p-median model with a single response time objective and to a hierarchical pq-median model that considers two different vehicle types. A detailed computer simulation model is used to evaluate the solutions. The methodology is verified in the conditions of the Slovak Republic using real historical data on 149,474 ambulance trips performed in 2015. Results All mathematical models improve EMS performance by relocating some stations compared to the current distribution. The best results are achieved by the hierarchical median-type model. The average response time is reduced by 58 s, the number of calls responded to within 15 min is increased by 5% and the number of high-priority calls responded to within 8 min by 6%. Conclusions The EMS systems operating in heterogeneous areas should be designed to minimize response times, and not to maximize the number of calls served within a given time limit.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12942-021-00285-xEmergency medical serviceAmbulance locationComputer simulationResponse timeCoverage |
| spellingShingle | Ľudmila Jánošíková Peter Jankovič Marek Kvet Frederika Zajacová Coverage versus response time objectives in ambulance location International Journal of Health Geographics Emergency medical service Ambulance location Computer simulation Response time Coverage |
| title | Coverage versus response time objectives in ambulance location |
| title_full | Coverage versus response time objectives in ambulance location |
| title_fullStr | Coverage versus response time objectives in ambulance location |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coverage versus response time objectives in ambulance location |
| title_short | Coverage versus response time objectives in ambulance location |
| title_sort | coverage versus response time objectives in ambulance location |
| topic | Emergency medical service Ambulance location Computer simulation Response time Coverage |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12942-021-00285-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ludmilajanosikova coverageversusresponsetimeobjectivesinambulancelocation AT peterjankovic coverageversusresponsetimeobjectivesinambulancelocation AT marekkvet coverageversusresponsetimeobjectivesinambulancelocation AT frederikazajacova coverageversusresponsetimeobjectivesinambulancelocation |