An optimal ambulance routing model using simulation based on patient medical severity

Abstract

Ambulance routing is an important strategic decision that plays a critical role in the optimisation of the healthcare system. Despite the obvious merit of intelligent ambulance routing strategy, there needs to be more work in the existing literature, which has been identified through a comprehensive review. Deciding the optimal path while transporting patients is a dynamic process, which the time-critical and emergency level of the patient can further exacerbate. Therefore, this research has designed a simulation model to plot the optimal path by considering multiple ambulances, dispatching locations, and hospitals. Real data from the Australian Government (focus: Victoria, Melbourne) has been used for hospital admissions across Australian states and territories to ensure the scope is manageable. Different patient medical severities have been considered while simulating the optimal ambulance routing. The simulation achieved an average Code 1 arrival time of 15 min across all three Victorian Local Government Areas (LGAs). It also performed well when the model’s parameters were restricted. These results are very promising and provide the foundation for further research.