Ambulance location for maximum survival

TLDR

A survival function maps EMS response time to patient survival probability, decreasing monotonically with longer delays. The study proposes new EMS station location models that incorporate a survival function. The models are built by embedding a survival function into standard covering models. Using Edmonton EMS data, the survival‑maximizing models outperform traditional covering models by better estimating expected survivors and improving location decisions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Abstract

Abstract This article proposes new location models for emergency medical service stations. The models are generated by incorporating a survival function into existing covering models. A survival function is a monotonically decreasing function of the response time of an emergency medical service (EMS) vehicle to a patient that returns the probability of survival for the patient. The survival function allows for the calculation of tangible outcome measures—the expected number of survivors in case of cardiac arrests. The survival‐maximizing location models are better suited for EMS location than the covering models which do not adequately differentiate between consequences of different response times. We demonstrate empirically the superiority of the survival‐maximizing models using data from the Edmonton EMS system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2008