Supporting Fair and Efficient Emergency Medical Services in a Large Heterogeneous Region

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Operations Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are vital for timely patient care but face complex operational challenges.
• Decision-making in EMS occurs at strategic, tactical, and operational levels, often hindered by system dynamics.
• Ensuring equitable access to EMS across diverse geographical and demographic landscapes is a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an action-driven strategy for enhancing EMS management.
• To develop a Decision Support System (DSS) that aids EMS professionals in making informed decisions.
• To improve the overall efficiency and fairness of EMS operations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a multi-objective optimizer and a dynamic simulator to evaluate decision outcomes.
• Combined historical data with real-time simulations for robust analysis.
• Developed a DSS to accurately model real-world EMS systems.

Main Results:

• The proposed strategy and DSS provide valuable feedback for EMS decision-makers.
• The system accurately models complex EMS operations in regions like Friuli Venezia Giulia.
• Demonstrated potential for enhancing both the efficiency and equity of EMS delivery.

Conclusions:

• The action-driven strategy, supported by simulation and optimization, can significantly improve EMS performance.
• The developed DSS offers a practical tool for enhancing EMS management and decision-making.
• Addressing regional disparities in EMS access is crucial and can be supported by such technological advancements.