Logistics Strategies for Emergency Medical Services

Abstract

This thesis advances Emergency Medical Services (EMS) logistics by developing innovative delivery strategies, optimizing facility locations, and designing adaptive dispatching policies to enhance response efficiency and resource allocation. Recognizing limitations in traditional EMS models, this research explores alternative logistics strategies—including rendezvous and pre-hospital models— that offer greater flexibility in high-demand, resource-constrained environments, laying the groundwork for adaptive solutions in EMS. A comprehensive literature review identifies and critiques current EMS strategies, revealing critical gaps in facility location planning, dispatch policies, and resource management in real-time. These findings establish a foundation for the research's models, prioritizing patient outcomes, and advancing EMS logistics to meet different healthcare needs. To address spatial disparities in EMS access, the thesis employs facility location optimization, determining optimal resource placement for rendezvous delivery strategies. Analyzing geographic and demographic factors, these methods enhance response times by ensuring EMS resources are strategically positioned to maximize accessibility and patient medical outcomes. Dispatch policies are explored through agent-based simulation, with a focus on rule-based assignment methods that adapt dynamically to resource types, incident severity, and varying performance metrics across diverse resources and demand types. This approach enables a nuanced allocation of resources, tailoring responses to the specific needs of each incident while optimizing overall system performance. In conclusion, this research offers actionable insights into EMS system design and implementation, with broader implications for emergency logistics and urban health policy.