Optimizing Emergency Medical Service Levels Through Strategic Ambulance Base Location in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This study addresses the location of emergency rescue vehicle bases in the western region of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The research aims to serve the greatest number of people within WHO parameters, which stipulates a maximum waiting time of 10 min. Various scenarios are explored, varying the number of rescue vehicles from 10 to 50 and the number of bases from 10 to 22. The study reveals that having an adequate number of rescue vehicles is crucial before determining the number and locations of the bases. Even in optimized scenarios with 5 or 8 bases, population coverage still falls short of the ideal, especially for 10-min response times. However, increasing the number of bases, up to a maximum of 22, shows significant improvements in population coverage, especially when aiming for a 10-min response time. Suggestions for future research include calculating the exact number of rescue vehicles needed to optimize the service and considering cost implications. This study highlights the importance of enhancing the emergency response system to meet the needs of the population.