Joint CARTE-CHE webinar – Application of optimization and simulation techniques in resource allocation and dispatch decisions at Ornge

Recording at: CARTE Youtube channel

February 18, 2022 @ 11:00 am12:00 pm

The Centre for Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Engineering (CARTE) Industry Speakers Series in collaboration with the Centre for Healthcare Engineering (CHE) welcomes Mahvareh Ahghari, Research Coordinator & Quality Analyst at Ornge, formerly Ontario Air Ambulance Corporation.

Abstract: As the largest transport medicine organization in Canada, Ornge provides patient care and transportation services across Ontario, covering a vast area of one million square kilometers. Ornge carries out approximately 19,000 patient transfers annually – with different priorities and required levels of care – using a fleet of land critical care transfer vehicles, rotor-wing aircraft (helicopters), and fixed-wing aircraft (airplanes) located in different bases across the province. Efficient deployment of these resources can enhance access to critical care while potentially decreasing costs.

In this session, I will discuss the development process of two decision support tools, including (1) an optimization/simulation model to determine optimal base locations, and examine the most efficient deployment procedures to improve the overall response time for emergent and urgent patient transports province-wide, and (2) an optimization tool for long-term (next day) patient transfers to optimize the transportation costs of non-urgent patients on a daily basis. I will present how applying these tools helps Ornge make evidence-based vehicle allocations and dispatch decisions in order to improve patient care while augmenting operations efficiency in a fiscally responsible manner.

This is a long-lasting collaboration (from 2008 until now) with Dr. Russell MacDonald (Medical Director, Ornge), Dr. Shane Henderson, Dr. David Shmoys, and a group of 30 graduate students from the Cornell Graduate School of Operations Research and Information Engineering (ORIE).

Registration: Zoom

Full announcement at: CARTE