Optimizing mobile stroke unit deployment: A strategic case study in the greater Oslo area.

Area of Science:

• Prehospital care
• Geospatial analysis
• Stroke medicine

Background:

• Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs) improve acute stroke assessment, treatment rates, and patient outcomes.
• Optimal MSU placement is critical for maximizing the utility of this specialized resource.
• Geospatial mapping can identify ideal locations to enhance MSU effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optimal placement of an MSU in the greater Oslo area.
• To assess the impact of strategic MSU location on acute stroke treatment.
• To leverage geospatial mapping for improved prehospital stroke care.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of historical stroke data, including geospatial information and travel times.
• Application of a mathematical optimization model based on the Maximum Coverage Location Problem (MCLP).
• Utilized the Gurobi solver to determine optimal MSU placement.

Main Results:

• Optimal MSU placement in Oslo increases patient coverage by 17%.
• A "rendez-vous" approach could enhance coverage for confirmed stroke patients by approximately 300%.
• Strategic placement can reduce time to thrombolysis by 27 minutes (25%) and thrombectomy by 35 minutes (20%).

Conclusions:

• Strategic MSU placement in Oslo significantly improves patient coverage and reduces acute stroke treatment times.
• Geospatial analysis is a valuable tool for decision-making regarding MSU location.
• Optimized prehospital stroke assessment through strategic MSU placement can lead to better patient outcomes.