Title: Design of the patient care space inside an ICU vehicle or ambulance through an optimisation model

Authors: F. Javier Sanchez, Alvaro Garcia-Sanchez, Miguel Ortega-Mier, Jose M. Lopez

Addresses: U.D. Proyectos (ETSII) – INSIA (Automobile Research Institute), Polytechnic University of Madrid, Jose Gutierrez Abascal, 2 28006 Madrid, Spain. ' Grupo de Ingenieria de Organizacion y Logistica (ETSII), Polytechnic University of Madrid, Jose Gutierrez Abascal, 2 28006 Madrid, Spain. ' Grupo de Ingenieria de Organizacion y Logistica (ETSII), Polytechnic University of Madrid, Jose Gutierrez Abascal, 2 28006 Madrid, Spain. ' U.D. Motores Termicos (ETSII) – INSIA, (Automobile Research Institute), Polytechnic University of Madrid, Edificio INSIA, Campus Sur UPM, Ctra. Valencia km 7, 28031 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: This paper presents the main results of a project intended to improve the design of the interior patient care space of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of the Medical Emergency Services of the Madrid (Spain) Regional Government (SUMMA 112). For that purpose, data and criteria were gathered from health workers, with which an optimisation model was developed to obtain a solution where all the medical-health materials and equipment were located for performing the more critical and frequent operations in the shortest possible time, without health workers| interferences and with material as close as possible to the one to use it.

Keywords: intensive care unit vehicles; ICU; intensive care units; ambulances; patient care spaces; optimisation models; linear programming; engineering design; vehicle body-building; vehicle transformation; Spain; vehicle design; ambulance design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2010.029622

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2010 Vol.17 No.1, pp.35 - 51

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

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