Multi-objective optimization for emergency healthcare resource allocation

Emergency healthcare systems are faced with the challenging problems of distributing scarce resources quickly, fairly and economically and balancing limited resources with unpredictable demand.This study aims to present a multi-objective optimization methodology for ambulance allocation, healthcare manpower deployment, beds, equipments and emergency supplies to healthcare facilities.The model concurrently seeks to minimize response time, cost of operation, resource limitations and risk to the patient and maximize the scope of coverage and the utilization of resources.Forecasts of demand, facility levels, transportation limitations and priorities are included in the decision process.Balanced allocation alternatives of conflicting objectives are identified using Pareto based optimization.Simulation results show that better results in emergency coverage, waiting time, allocation cost and resource available have been achieved than that of traditional single objective approaches.The framework can be used to guide emergency healthcare planning in case of a routine crisis and/or a large-scale disaster that is responsive, transparent, and based on evidence.