A multi-period location–allocation model for integrated management of emergency medical supplies and infected patients during epidemics

Abstract

A large-scale epidemic can threaten human life safety and bring about considerable damage to our economy. Integrated management of limited emergency medical supplies and infected patients is vital to mitigate the negative impacts of epidemics, but it is seldom addressed in the literature. This study proposes a multi-period location–allocation model to deploy emergency hospitals, allocate emergency medical supplies and manage infected patients dynamically and integrally. Under a cost-effectiveness planning goal, the model explicitly considers the dynamic arrival of emergency medical supplies and infected patients, the fairness requirement of patient transfer, and the patient state transition across periods. With a case study on Wuhan, China, we highlight the effectiveness and benefits of the planning model and obtain managerial insights and suggestions for better management of emergency medical supplies and infected patients during epidemics.