Ambulance Dispatch Center Pilots Proactive Relocation Policies to Enhance Effectiveness

Martin van Buuren (), Caroline Jagtenberg (), Thije van Barneveld (), Rob van der Mei () and Sandjai Bhulai ()
Additional contact information
Martin van Buuren: Department of Stochastics, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, Amsterdam, 1098XG Netherlands; Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081HV Netherlands
Caroline Jagtenberg: Department of Stochastics, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, Amsterdam, 1098XG Netherlands
Thije van Barneveld: Department of Stochastics, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, Amsterdam, 1098XG Netherlands; Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081HV Netherlands
Rob van der Mei: Department of Stochastics, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, Amsterdam, 1098XG Netherlands; Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081HV Netherlands
Sandjai Bhulai: Department of Stochastics, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, Amsterdam, 1098XG Netherlands; Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1081HV Netherlands

Interfaces, 2018, vol. 48, issue 3, 235-246

Abstract: In life-threatening emergency situations in which every second counts, the timely arrival of an ambulance can make the difference between survival and death. In practice, the response-time targets, defined as the maximum time between the moment an incoming emergency call is received the moment when onsite medical aid is provided, are often not met. A promising means to reduce late arrivals by ambulances is to proactively relocate ambulances to ensure good coverage by the available ambulances in real time. This paper evaluates two dynamic relocation policies that an ambulance service provider in the Netherlands modified for operational use and implemented in a software tool for real-time decision support. The policies were used in a pilot program within a dispatch center for 12 weeks. Based on the success of this pilot, our policies were adopted for ongoing use and permanent implementation. This paper describes the relocation methods, evaluates the pilot, provides statistics for efficiency improvements, and discusses the experiences of ambulance dispatchers and management.

Keywords: ambulance; EMS; relocation; DAM; dynamic; management; operations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1287/inte.2017.0936 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:orinte:v:48:y:2018:i:3:p:235-246

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Interfaces from INFORMS Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Asher ().