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Optimizing Emergency Medical Service Structures Using a Rule-Based Discrete Event Simulation—A Practitioner’s Point of View

Author

Listed:
  • Christoph Strauss

    (IMS Institut für Modellbildung und Simulation, OST—Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, Rosenbergstrasse 59, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

  • Günter Bildstein

    (Rettung St. Gallen, Mooswiesstrasse 30, 9200 Gossau, Switzerland)

  • Jana Efe

    (Kantonsspital Baselland, 4101 Bruderholz, Switzerland)

  • Theo Flacher

    (City of Zurich, Protection & Rescue Zurich, Weststrasse 4, 8036 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Karen Hofmann

    (Canton of Bern, Gesundheits-, Sozial- und Integrationsdirektion, Rathausgasse 1, Postfach 3000 Bern 8, Switzerland)

  • Markus Huggler

    (Rettungsdienst Kantonsspital Winterthur, Brauerstrasse 20, Postfach 834, 8401 Winterthur, Switzerland)

  • Adrian Stämpfli

    (IMS Institut für Modellbildung und Simulation, OST—Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, Rosenbergstrasse 59, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

  • Michael Schmid

    (IMS Institut für Modellbildung und Simulation, OST—Ostschweizer Fachhochschule, Rosenbergstrasse 59, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

  • Esther Schmid

    (Rettungsdienst Luzerner Kantonsspital, Spitalstrasse, 6000 Luzern 16, Switzerland)

  • Christian Gehring

    (Institut für Notfallmedizin und Medizinmanagement (INM), Klinikum der Universität München, LMU München, Schillerstr. 53, 80336 München, Germany)

  • David Häske

    (Center for Public Health and Health Services Reserch, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstrasse 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany)

  • Stephan Prückner

    (Institut für Notfallmedizin und Medizinmanagement (INM), Klinikum der Universität München, LMU München, Schillerstr. 53, 80336 München, Germany)

  • Jan Philipp Stock

    (Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency and Pain Medicine, Klinikum am Steinenberg, Steinenbergstr. 31, 72764 Reutlingen, Germany)

  • Heiko Trentzsch

    (Institut für Notfallmedizin und Medizinmanagement (INM), Klinikum der Universität München, LMU München, Schillerstr. 53, 80336 München, Germany)

Abstract

Many studies in research deal with optimizing emergency medical services (EMS) on both the operational and the strategic level. It is the purpose of this method-oriented article to explain the major features of “rule-based discrete event simulation” (rule-based DES), which we developed independently in Germany and Switzerland. Our rule-based DES addresses questions concerning the location and relocation of ambulances, dispatching and routing policies, and EMS interplay with other players in prehospital care. We highlight three typical use cases from a practitioner’s perspective and go into different countries’ peculiarities. We show how research results are applied to EMS and healthcare organizations to simulate and optimize specific regions in Germany and Switzerland with their strong federal structures. The rule-based DES serves as basis for decision support to improve regional emergency services’ efficiency without increasing cost. Finally, all simulation-based methods suggest normative solutions and optimize EMS’ performance within given healthcare system structures. We argue that interactions between EMS, emergency departments, and public healthcare agencies are crucial to further improving effectiveness, efficiency, and quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Christoph Strauss & Günter Bildstein & Jana Efe & Theo Flacher & Karen Hofmann & Markus Huggler & Adrian Stämpfli & Michael Schmid & Esther Schmid & Christian Gehring & David Häske & Stephan Prückner , 2021. "Optimizing Emergency Medical Service Structures Using a Rule-Based Discrete Event Simulation—A Practitioner’s Point of View," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2649-:d:511650
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul R. Carlile, 2004. "Transferring, Translating, and Transforming: An Integrative Framework for Managing Knowledge Across Boundaries," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(5), pages 555-568, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. L’udmila Jánošíková & Peter Jankovič & Marek Kvet & Gaston Ivanov & Jakub Holod & Imrich Berta, 2022. "Reorganization of an Emergency Medical System in a Mixed Urban-Rural Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Jesús Isaac Vázquez-Serrano & Rodrigo E. Peimbert-García & Leopoldo Eduardo Cárdenas-Barrón, 2021. "Discrete-Event Simulation Modeling in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-20, November.

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