Improving trauma center accessibility from motor vehicle accidents using anti-covering approach

Keywords: accessibility, trauma center, motor vehicle accident, anti-covering approach, ACLP,
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 39

Abstract

Arrival at a trauma center within an hour of the accident increases a patient’s chances of survival and recovery. Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most prevalent causes of traumatic injury in patients needing transport to a trauma center. However, not all vehicle accidents are accessible to a trauma center within an hour of ground transportation in Tennessee. This study uses the anti-covering location problem (hereafter ACLP) to assess the current placement of trauma centers and explore optimal placements based on the spatial pattern of motor vehicle accidents in 2015-2019, Tennessee. The ACLP models seek to offer a method of exploring feasible scenarios for locating trauma centers that intend to allow the accessibility of patients from underserved areas who suffer trauma as a result of vehicle accidents. The proposed ACLP approach also seeks to adjust the locations of trauma centers to reduce the areas with excessive service coverage but improve the coverage for less accessible areas of demand. In this study, three different models are prescribed for finding the optimal solution to Trauma centers’ location. (1) A conventional ACLP model application with a geometric approach and weighted models of population, fatality, and spatial fatality clusters of vehicle accidents. (2) The extended ACLP model mitigates excessive service supply among trauma center candidates while expanding services area to medically underserved regions for more beneficiaries using fewer facilities. (3)The last model explores the optimal location of additional trauma centers to the existing facilities.