published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This thesis deals with the problem of locating emergency ambulances in an urban area. We developed a simulation model to analyze possible improvements in ambulance service. A new point-to-point travel time model is introduced in our simulation. Validating the model proved to be a difficult task and is discussed in detail. Our model has been applied to the Tucson Emergency Medical Service system.

This thesis deals with the problem of locating emergency vehicles in an urban area. An optimization model is formulated that extends previous work by allowing stochastic travel times, unequal vehicle utilizations, and backup service. The heart of the model is a procedure similar to the Hypercube approximation model. Ten pair-wise interchange heuristics are developed and tested on 240 test problems. Demand and service time components of the test data have been generated using characteristics of the Tucson Emergency Medical System. Geographical components of the test data have been generated using actual city shapes as models. It is believed that these test problems are more indicative of actual emergency vehicle location problems than those previously presented in the literature.

published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2002. / Also available online.

This study aimed to investigate and describe perceptions Fire Fighters and Platoon Commanders from Johannesburg Emergency Services have of educational offerings offered by and / or deemed applicable to the emergency service, with specific reference to their vocational applicability and value in relation to promotion. It is argued in this report that such perceptions may affect the motivation experienced by adult learners to engage in further study and thus may influence the learning process as a whole. An understanding of how emergency service workers feel about the various courses and or qualifications that are on offer becomes important for managers, trainers and educators not only within the Johannesburg Emergency Service but also within industry as they plan and structure future educational offerings and training programmes. To collect data on the perceptions described above in-depth face to face interviews were conducted with a purposefully selected sample of Fire Fighters and Platoon Commanders. During these interviews the participants were required to respond to questions which were specifically designed to elicit their views and perceptions on the vocational applicability of courses and qualifications relevant to their daily work within the emergency service and the value of further study for promotion. The interviews were audio recorded producing raw data, which could be later transcribed verbatim. Once sufficient data was collected, this data was analysed and interpreted. The analysis and interpretation yielded a number of significant findings relating to the participants’ perceptions of the vocational applicability of various courses and qualifications linked to the service as well as the perceived value or link between further study and promotion. The findings relating to vocational applicability emphasised that perceptions about which courses and / or qualifications had higher levels of vocational applicability were most often linked to the participant’s position within the service as well as their own personal preference for a particular specialist area or vocational discipline. In addition, the frequency with which the participants utilised a learning outcome or skill appeared to play a significant role in determining their perception regarding the vocational applicability of learning events. Although the courses currently on offer were largely seen as being vocationally applicable there was a perception that significant deficits existed in their levels of training and preparation for particular incidents and components of the participants’ vocational activities. The study also found a perception among the participants that they were not afforded an equal opportunity to study further in each of the three main vocational disciplines. Regarding further learning and promotion within the service, this study found that the participants did not perceive a clearly identifiable link between further study and promotion and that promotion was not the main driving force behind their desire to study further. There also appeared to be confusion and a lack of consensus about which courses are best for promotion. The rescue courses specifically receive little recognition from the service in terms of promotion. Based on these findings a number of recommendations were made. It was recommended that the service consider the introduction of new learning programmes to supplement the learning outcomes of existing qualifications and courses. The employer was also encouraged to provide better clarity and guidance for staff about how all the different courses and qualifications are to be recognised and managed within the service. In order to do this, the employer was encouraged to carefully reflect on the role of further study within the service as well as the envisaged linkages between particular courses and qualifications and the workers operational duties, promotion, specialisation and career development. / Dr. K. Steenekamp Prof. A. Swart

Thesis (M.P.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.P.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

No / Ambulance service demand is increasing in the United Kingdom. A common speculative view makes a link between this rise in demand, deprivation, and certain medical conditions. This study explored factors infl uencing English ambulance service demand in two areas of differing socioeconomic status. Adopting a causal comparative design, the study compared the numbers of life-threatening calls that Yorkshire Ambulance Service receives and serves in two geographical areas within the Hull and East Riding area. The area of lower socioeconomic status generated signifi cantly more life-threatening calls than the area of higher socioeconomic status; these calls often supported younger patients (mean age 59 years versus 71 years) for breathing diffi culties (29% versus 14.5%) more commonly. Tackling inequality will require a whole-systems approach, effective leadership, and recognition of the benefi ts of understanding difference. A key relationship will entail engaging with seldom heard communities.