Quantitative Evaluation of Evacuation Efficiency during Disasters according to the Operation of Human Resources in Medical Facilities

Intensive care patients are among those most vulnerable during disasters, as they are unable to evacuate independently and often rank lowest in evacuation priority due to their low survival rates. Consequently, evacuation protocols in medical facilities prioritize patients with better survival prospects. However, quantitative research on whether such evacuation methods improve efficiency remains insufficient. This study utilized Flexsim Healthcare to calculate the Required Safe Evacuation Time for medical facilities accommodating patients with various evacuation needs, including those who are walkable, in a wheelchair, and bedridden. The findings indicate that the deployment of over 40% of resident nurses as per legal standards is necessary to significantly enhance the evacuation efficiency for vulnerable populations. Additionally, the study found that the highest evacuation efficiency is achieved when 75% of all evacuation assistants are assigned to bedridden patients and 25% to those in wheelchairs.