A novel mathematical model for emergency transfer point and facility location

Abstract

The significance of emergency transfer point and facility location lies in its potential to save lives, optimize resource allocation, and enhance the efficiency of healthcare services during emergencies. It ensures timely patient access and cost-effective care. So, this study introduces a novel Mixed Integer Programming Model (MIP) for addressing the Multi-Facility and Multi-Transfer Point Location Problem (MFMTPLP). The problem involves determining the optimal locations for q facilities and p transfer points to facilitate direct customer access to facilities or through transfer points. The objective is to minimize the maximum expected weight distance for all the required points via transfer points. The study focuses on identifying the required points that carry weight and proposes a viable solution for solving the associated mathematical problems. An important contribution of this study, which has been overlooked in previous research, is the exploration of relevant costs associated with not transferring patients from demand points and hospitalizing them at transfer points. Additionally, the study emphasizes the significance of prioritizing different points and considering the costs associated with not transferring injured individuals from demand points and admitting them to transfer points. Previous models for locating facility and transfer points did not account for these factors. The study concludes by presenting the computed results, which validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model.