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Empirical Analysis of Ambulance Travel Times: The Case of Calgary Emergency Medical Services

Author

Listed:
  • Susan Budge

    (School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R6, Canada)

  • Armann Ingolfsson

    (School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R6, Canada)

  • Dawit Zerom

    (Mihaylo College of Business and Economics, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California 92834)

Abstract

Using administrative data for high-priority calls in Calgary, Alberta, we estimate how ambulance travel times depend on distance. We find that a logarithmic transformation produces symmetric travel-time distributions with heavier tails than those of a normal distribution. Guided by nonparametric estimates of the median and coefficient of variation, we demonstrate that a previously proposed model for mean fire engine travel times is a valid and useful description of median ambulance travel times. We propose a new specification for the coefficient of variation, which decreases with distance. We illustrate how the resulting travel-time distribution model can be used to create probability-of-coverage maps for diagnosis and improvement of system performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Susan Budge & Armann Ingolfsson & Dawit Zerom, 2010. "Empirical Analysis of Ambulance Travel Times: The Case of Calgary Emergency Medical Services," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 56(4), pages 716-723, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:56:y:2010:i:4:p:716-723
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.1090.1142
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    References listed on IDEAS

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