An allocation model for emergency medical services based on integrated healthcare during an epidemic

ABSTRACT

Enhanced virus control and patient treatment outcomes during an epidemic requires flexible and efficient medical services. This research explores an epidemic medical service allocation model from an integrated healthcare perspective, aiming to enhance the overall regional emergency medical service capability based on collaborative medical treatment. The study is based on COVID-19 medical services and its main treatment stages, and resource allocation models are constructed for the allocation of multiple medical services. The model addresses the dispersed medical service resources and demands in a certain region, and realizes the division of labor and resource sharing among medical institutions from the perspectives of distance, cost, and fairness with the advantage of integrated healthcare. We design examples in the context of COVID-19 epidemic and verify the validity and applicability of the model under different phases. This paper provides reference to the research and practice of achieving collaborative medical treatment between multiple medical institutions.