Dynamic ambulance relocation: a scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Emergency medical services research
• Operations research in healthcare
• Public health preparedness

Background:

• Dynamic ambulance relocation involves strategically repositioning ambulances to improve future emergency response.
• This practice aims to optimize coverage and minimize response times during medical emergencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of existing research on dynamic ambulance relocation.
• To identify current knowledge and research gaps in this field.

Main Methods:

• A structured literature search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
• Twenty-one relevant papers were included in the review.

Main Results:

• Most studies utilized mathematical models to determine optimal ambulance placement, considering factors like distance, demographics, and service hours.
• Only one study evaluated models in real-time; no studies reported on patient outcomes or real-life effects of relocation.
• Research predominantly focuses on optimizing response times rather than patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Current research on dynamic ambulance relocation is heavily based on mathematical modeling and technical data, prioritizing response times over patient outcomes.
• Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the impact on patient outcomes, rural ambulance utilization, turnaround times, domino effects, and the EMS personnel working environment.
• Future research should address these gaps to provide a comprehensive understanding of dynamic ambulance relocation's effectiveness and implications.