title: Optimization of aeromedical base locations in New Mexico using a model that considers crash nodes and paths.
abstract: In a recent paper, Tokar Erdemir et al. (2008) introduce models for service systems with service requests originating from both nodes and paths. We demonstrate how to apply and extend their approach to an aeromedical base location application, with specific focus on the state of New Mexico (NM). The current aeromedical base locations of NM are selected without considering motor vehicle crash paths. Crash paths are the roads on which crashes occur, where each road segment has a weight signifying relative crash occurrence. We analyze the loss in accident coverage and location error for current aeromedical base locations. We also provide insights on the relevance of considering crash paths when selecting aeromedical base locations. Additionally, we look briefly at some of the tradeoff issues in locating additional trauma centers vs. additional aeromedical bases in the current aeromedical system of NM. Not surprisingly, tradeoff analysis shows that by locating additional aeromedical bases, we always attain the required coverage level with a lower cost than with locating additional trauma centers.
authors.affiliation: Center for Transportation Injury Research, CUBRC, Buffalo, NY 14225, USA.
authors.forename: Elif Tokar
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Erdemir
authors.forename: Rajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Batta
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spielman
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rogerson
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blatt
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flanigan
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001336:Automobiles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009516:New Mexico; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries