Health Care Logistics Network Design and Analysis on Pandemic Outbreaks: Insights From COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Operations Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Global healthcare systems face immense pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Over two years into the pandemic, healthcare providers continue to struggle with severe cases.
• The postponement of routine medical procedures has significantly increased the burden on healthcare systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optimal number and locations for dedicated healthcare facilities to treat pandemic-infected patients.
• To establish safer and higher-quality healthcare services during outbreaks by separating infected and non-infected patient populations.

Main Methods:

• A decision-making framework utilizing two multi-objective mixed-integer programming models was developed.
• Strategic level optimization focused on locating designated pandemic hospitals.
• Tactical level optimization determined the placement and operational duration of temporary isolation centers for mildly and moderately symptomatic patients.

Main Results:

• The framework assesses key metrics including patient travel distance, disruption to routine services, facility proximity, and population infection risk.
• A case study for Istanbul's European side demonstrated the model's applicability.
• The base case identified the need for seven designated pandemic hospitals and four isolation centers.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework supports decision-making for pandemic preparedness by optimizing healthcare facility allocation.
• Separating infected and non-infected patients in dedicated facilities can enhance healthcare safety and quality during outbreaks.
• The study provides valuable insights for managing healthcare resources during public health crises.