title: A comparison of actual versus predicted emergency ambulance journey times using generic Geographic Information System software.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The planning of regional emergency medical services is aided by accurate prediction of urgent ambulance journey times, but it is unclear whether it is appropriate to use Geographical Information System (GIS) products designed for general traffic. We examined the accuracy of a commercially available generic GIS package when predicting emergency ambulance journey times under different population and temporal conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a retrospective cohort study of emergency ambulance admissions to three emergency departments (ED) serving differing population distributions in northeast England (urban/suburban/rural). The transport time from scene to ED for all the highest priority dispatches between 1 October 2009 and 30 September 2010 was compared with predictions made by generic GIS software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For 10,156 emergency ambulance journeys, the mean prediction discrepancy between actual and predicted journey times across all EDs was an underprediction of 1.6 min (SD 4.9). Underprediction was statistically significant at all population densities, but unlikely to be of clinical significance. Ambulances in urban areas were able to exceed general traffic speed, whereas, the opposite effect was seen in suburban and rural road networks. There were minor effects due to travel outside the busiest traffic times (mean overprediction 0.8 min) and during winter months (mean underprediction 0.4 min).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is reasonable to estimate emergency ambulance journey times using generic GIS software, but in order to avoid insufficient regional ambulance provision it would be necessary to make small adjustments because of the tendency towards systematic underprediction.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McMeekin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ageing and Health (Stroke Research Group), Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duckett
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ageing and Health (Stroke Research Group), Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004739:England; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012984:Software; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: emergency ambulance systems; planning