NCJ Number
51878
Date Published
1977
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THE METHODOLOGY USED TO ASSIGN AMBULANCE LOCATIONS IN THE RURAL BEL-O-MAR AREA, WHICH INCLUDES THREE COUNTIES IN WEST VIRGINIA AND ONE IN OHIO, IS PRESENTED. MANY OF THE POLITICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
FIRST, THE PAPER DESCRIBES THE COLLECTION OF DATA ON CALLS FOR SERVICE BY AREA AND THE AVERAGE RESPONSE AND SERVICE TIMES RECORDED BY EACH AMBULANCE UNIT IN THE AREA. THEN, A SIMPLIFIED VERSION OF CLASSICAL SET-COVERING ANALYSIS IS USED TO DEVELOP A POINT-TO-POINT TRAVEL-TIME MATRIX, A TOTAL RESPONSE TIME MATRIX (ALLOWING FOR TIME REQUIRED TO ASSEMBLE CREWS FOR VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE COMPANIES), AND A COVERAGE MATRIX. THESE DATA ARE TABULATED. A REDUCTION PROCESS IS USED TO DETERMINE AMBULANCE ALLOCATION. THIS PROCESS IS DESCRIBED STEP-BY-STEP AND IS ILLUSTRATED BY CHARTS AND TABLES. THE SECOND PART OF THE PAPER DISCUSSES THE POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS WHICH LED TO LESS THAN OPTIMUM AMBULANCE ALLOCATION. SOME JURISDICTIONS REFUSED TO OFFER AMBULANCE SERVICE OUTSIDE OF TOWN BOUNDARIES, OTHERS REFUSED TO OFFER IT OUTSIDE OF COUNTY BOUNDARIES. THE JURISDICTIONS ALSO INSISTED ON 15 MINUTE RURAL RESPONSE TIME, RATHER THAN THE FEDERAL STANDARD OF 30 MINUTES. THIS DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF AMBULANCES REQUIRED. MAPS SHOW THE PROPOSED AND FINAL ALLOCATIONS OF AMBULANCES. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE CALCULATIONS USED ARE SIMPLIFIED BY USE OF A COMPUTER BUT THAT THE ENTIRE PROCEDURES CAN BE CARRIED OUT BY HAND. THE EFFECTS OF POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS ON EMERGENCY VEHICLE LOCATION ARE EVALUATED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)