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Modeling and Optimizing the Public-Health Infrastructure for Emergency Response

Author

Listed:
  • Eva K. Lee

    (Center for Operations Research in Medicine and HealthCare, School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, and NSF I/UCRC Center for Health Organization Transformation, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332)

  • Chien-Hung Chen

    (Center for Operations Research in Medicine and HealthCare, School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, and NSF I/UCRC Center for Health Organization Transformation, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332)

  • Ferdinand Pietz

    (Strategic National Stockpile, Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333)

  • Bernard Benecke

    (Strategic National Stockpile, Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333)

Abstract

Public-health emergencies, such as bioterrorist attacks or pandemics, demand fast, efficient, large-scale dispensing of critical medical countermeasures. By combining mathematical modeling, large-scale simulation, and powerful optimization engines, and coupling them with automatic graph-drawing tools and a user-friendly interface, we designed and implemented RealOpt © , a fast and practical emergency-response decision-support tool. RealOpt allows public-health emergency coordinators to (1) determine locations for point-of-dispensing (POD) facility setup; (2) design customized and efficient floor plans for PODs via an automatic graph-drawing tool; (3) determine required labor resources and provide efficient placement of staff at individual stations within a POD; (4) perform disease-propagation analysis, understand and monitor the intra-POD disease dilemma, and help to derive dynamic response strategies to mitigate casualties; (5) assess resources and determine minimum needs to prepare for treating their regional populations in emergency situations; (6) carry out large-scale virtual drills and performance analyses, and investigate alternative strategies; and (7) design a variety of dispensing scenarios that include emergency-event exercises to train personnel. These advanced and powerful computational strategies allow emergency coordinators to quickly analyze design decisions, generate feasible regional dispensing plans based on best estimates and analyses available, and reconfigure PODs as an event unfolds. The ability to analyze planning strategies, compare the various options, and determine the most cost-effective combination of dispensing strategies is critical to the ultimate success of any mass dispensing effort.

Suggested Citation

  • Eva K. Lee & Chien-Hung Chen & Ferdinand Pietz & Bernard Benecke, 2009. "Modeling and Optimizing the Public-Health Infrastructure for Emergency Response," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 39(5), pages 476-490, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:39:y:2009:i:5:p:476-490
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.1090.0463
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    As found on the RePEc Biblio, the curated bibliography for Economics:
    1. > Economics of Welfare > Health Economics > Economics of Pandemics > Preparation > Infrastructure and Research

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    1. Muckstadt, John A. & Klein, Michael G. & Jackson, Peter L. & Gougelet, Robert M. & Hupert, Nathaniel, 2023. "Efficient and effective large-scale vaccine distribution," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    2. Duijzer, Lotty Evertje & van Jaarsveld, Willem & Dekker, Rommert, 2018. "Literature review: The vaccine supply chain," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 268(1), pages 174-192.
    3. Farahani, Reza Zanjirani & Fallah, Samira & Ruiz, Rubén & Hosseini, Sara & Asgari, Nasrin, 2019. "OR models in urban service facility location: A critical review of applications and future developments," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 276(1), pages 1-27.
    4. Desheng Dash Wu & Jia Liu & David L. Olson, 2015. "Simulation Decision System on the Preparation of Emergency Resources Using System Dynamics," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(6), pages 603-615, November.
    5. Ubaid Illahi & Mohammad Shafi Mir, 2021. "Maintaining efficient logistics and supply chain management operations during and after coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: learning from the past experiences," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 11157-11178, August.
    6. Midgley, Gerald & Johnson, Michael P. & Chichirau, George, 2018. "What is Community Operational Research?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 268(3), pages 771-783.
    7. Carri W. Chan & Linda V. Green & Yina Lu & Nicole Leahy & Roger Yurt, 2013. "Prioritizing Burn-Injured Patients During a Disaster," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 15(2), pages 170-190, May.
    8. Eva K. Lee & Ferdinand Pietz & Bernard Benecke & Jacquelyn Mason & Greg Burel, 2013. "Advancing Public Health and Medical Preparedness with Operations Research," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 43(1), pages 79-98, February.
    9. Wolfinger, David & Gansterer, Margaretha & Doerner, Karl F. & Popper, Nikolas, 2023. "A Large Neighbourhood Search Metaheuristic for the Contagious Disease Testing Problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 304(1), pages 169-182.
    10. Farahani, Reza Zanjirani & Lotfi, M.M. & Baghaian, Atefe & Ruiz, Rubén & Rezapour, Shabnam, 2020. "Mass casualty management in disaster scene: A systematic review of OR&MS research in humanitarian operations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 287(3), pages 787-819.
    11. Patrick Mellacher, 2022. "Endogenous viral mutations, evolutionary selection, and containment policy design," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 17(3), pages 801-825, July.
    12. Eva K. Lee & Chien-Hung Chen & Niquelle Brown & Joseph Handy & Alex Desiderio & Ruth Lopez & Brian Davis, 2012. "Designing Guest Flow and Operations Logistics for the Dolphin Tales," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 42(5), pages 492-506, October.
    13. Eva K. Lee & Hany Y. Atallah & Michael D. Wright & Eleanor T. Post & Calvin Thomas & Daniel T. Wu & Leon L. Haley, 2015. "Transforming Hospital Emergency Department Workflow and Patient Care," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 45(1), pages 58-82, February.
    14. Areej Alhothali & Budoor Alwated & Kamil Faisal & Sultanah Alshammari & Reem Alotaibi & Nusaybah Alghanmi & Omaimah Bamasag & Manal Bin Yamin, 2022. "Location-Allocation Model to Improve the Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine Centers in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-21, July.
    15. Hu, Zhi-Hua & Sheu, Jiuh-Biing & Xiao, Ling, 2014. "Post-disaster evacuation and temporary resettlement considering panic and panic spread," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 112-132.
    16. Michael R. Miller & Robert J. Alexander & Vincent A. Arbige & Robert F. Dell & Steven R. Kremer & Brian P. McClune & Jane E. Oppenlander & Joshua P. Tomlin, 2017. "Optimal Allocation of Students to Naval Nuclear-Power Training Units," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 47(4), pages 320-335, August.
    17. A. Anaya-Arenas & J. Renaud & A. Ruiz, 2014. "Relief distribution networks: a systematic review," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 223(1), pages 53-79, December.
    18. Simon Risanger & Bismark Singh & David Morton & Lauren Ancel Meyers, 2021. "Selecting pharmacies for COVID-19 testing to ensure access," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 330-338, June.
    19. Taymaz, S. & Iyigun, C. & Bayindir, Z.P. & Dellaert, N.P., 2020. "A healthcare facility location problem for a multi-disease, multi-service environment under risk aversion," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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