A robust scenario- model for locating emergency medical services bases: A case study for Ahvaz city in Iran

Emergency medical services (EMS) is responsible for pre-hospital care, playing a prominent role in saving lives from death as well as serious damage to their health. In view of the threat of disruptions to the network components and the risk of parameter uncertainties in the real world, it is incumbent upon render expedient EMS systems. In this regard, this paper unveils a two-phase approach based on data envelopment analyses and robust scenario-based mathematical model to design EMS network in an uncertain environment. The first phase applies a data envelopment analysis (DEA) to determine more valid and practical points for candidate locations. In the second phase, the strategic and tactical decisions of the concerned EMS is determined. Inasmuch as the marginal demand areas and patients with emergencies, the concerned model takes into account the location of air ambulance bases in such a way that for transferring patients by air ambulance to hospitals, hospitals are equipped with helipads. The unbiased considerations are also addressed by minimizing the transfer time to the farthest demand areas. Likewise, in a bid to better allocate emergency facilities to patients and the patients to appropriate hospitals with their physical condition, categorizing the type of disease for patients is carried out. Lastly, a real case study of the EMS system of Ahvaz city in Iran is exploited, via which outstanding managerial insights are attained.