Determining Ambulance—Hospital Locations for On-Scene and Hospital Services

Abstract

Network models, incorporating several new impedance measures, for the location of ambulances and hospitals are introduced. Although the minimization of average impedance is frequently stated as a criterion in location models, the impedance does not usually embrace more than a single link, such as the time taken from a facility to a demand point. Here the impedance is extended to include not only the primary link between facility and demand but also the link from the point of rescue to the point of ultimate service. The return link between the service point and dispatching station is considered as well. Models for the simultaneous location of ambulance dispatching points and hospitals are framed.