title: Location and cost of ambulances serving a rural area.
abstract: A location model is used to determine the most efficient (i.e., least-cost) number and location of ambulance facilities in a rural area. The model incorporates response time and service time standards into the analysis and indicates the trade-off between costs and various time standards. The financial feasibility of individual facility locations is then analyzed. The results indicate why many rural areas depend on volunteer or part-time purveyors of emergency medical transportation.
mesh_terms: D000552:Ambulances / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D002140:California; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012424:Rural Population; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors