Locating helicopter ambulance bases in Iceland: efficient and fair solutions ...

Abstract Background Fixed-wing air ambulances play an important role in healthcare in rural Iceland. More frequent use of helicopter ambulances has been suggested to shorten response times and increase equity in access to advanced emergency care. In finding optimal base locations, the objective is o...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gunnarsson, Björn, Björnsdóttir, Kristrún María, Dúason, Sveinbjörn, Ingólfsson, Ármann
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: figshare 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6910151.v1
https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Locating_helicopter_ambulance_bases_in_Iceland_efficient_and_fair_solutions/6910151/1
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Summary:Abstract Background Fixed-wing air ambulances play an important role in healthcare in rural Iceland. More frequent use of helicopter ambulances has been suggested to shorten response times and increase equity in access to advanced emergency care. In finding optimal base locations, the objective is often efficiency—maximizing the number of individuals who can be reached within a given time. This approach benefits people in densely populated areas more than people living in remote areas and the solution is not necessarily fair. This study aimed to find efficient and fair helicopter ambulance base locations in Iceland. Methods We used high-resolution population and incident location data to estimate the service demand for helicopter ambulances, with possible base locations limited to twenty-one airports and landing strips around the country. Base locations were estimated using both the maximal covering location problem (MCLP) optimization model, which aimed for maximal coverage of demand, and the fringe ...