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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
09:52
Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
Ahead of the ambulance: Optimizing volunteer training
Brian Overbeek1, Pieter L van den Berg2, Caroline J Jagtenberg3
1Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, School of Business and Economics, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands. b.overbeek2@vu.nl.
Health Care Management Science
|June 10, 2026
Summary
Optimizing training for community first responders (CFRs) improves medical emergency response times. Strategic volunteer training, considering availability and location, significantly enhances CFR system effectiveness over basic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Operations Research
- Public Health
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Community First Responder (CFR) systems enhance emergency medical response, particularly in rural areas.
- CFR systems dispatch trained volunteers to reduce response times, complementing ambulance services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To optimize the training strategy of CFR systems within a limited budget.
- To maximize CFR system effectiveness, defined as the probability of volunteer arrival before an ambulance.
Main Methods:
- Developed an optimization model accounting for volunteer availability and location heterogeneity.
- Implemented an efficient solution approach for realistic problem sizes.
- Applied the model to a CFR system in Lincolnshire, UK.
Main Results:
- The optimization approach significantly improved CFR system effectiveness compared to greedy strategies.
- Volunteer availability, location, and dispatch restrictions critically influence optimal training.
- The model provides substantial improvements over intuitive training methods.
Conclusions:
- Optimized training strategies are crucial for maximizing the impact of CFR systems.
- Resource allocation and volunteer management are key to effective emergency response.
- This research offers a data-driven approach to enhance community-based emergency medical services.
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