Integrating the ambulance dispatching and relocation problems to maximize system’s preparedness

A.S. Carvalho, M.E. Captivo and I. Marques

European Journal of Operational Research, 2020, vol. 283, issue 3, 1064-1080

Abstract: In the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) context, the decision-making process plays a very important role since some decisions highly impact patients’ health. This work focuses on the operational level by solving the dispatching and relocation ambulance problems. Dispatching decisions assign ambulances to emergencies and the relocation problem decides on the base to which available ambulances should be (re)assigned. To improve effectiveness and efficiency in the EMS response, integrated optimization approaches are proposed: a mathematical model and a pilot method heuristic. The aim is to maximize system’s coverage using a time-preparedness measure allowing relocations to any base.

Keywords: OR in health services; Emergency medical service; Ambulance management; Dispatching; Relocation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ejores:v:283:y:2020:i:3:p:1064-1080

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2019.11.056

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