Spatial Accessibility
2023-7-24
An Optimization Method for Equalizing the Spatial Accessibility of Medical Services in Guangzhou
This study develops an optimization model to improve spatial equality of medical service accessibility in Guangzhou, China by siting new facilities and adjusting bed numbers at existing facilities.
Abstract:
Spatial equality of medical services refers to equal access to medical services in all regions. Currently, research on medical facility planning focuses mainly on efficiency, and less on methods for achieving medical facility access equality. In this study, we propose a medical service equality optimization method considering facility grade and Gaode actual travel time data. First, we use the maximum coverage location problem (MCLP) model to locate new medical facilities. Then, we incorporate a service capacity weight matrix reflecting medical facility grade into the quadratic programming (QP) model, with the objective of optimizing the bed configuration of each facility to maximize the spatial equality of medical accessibility. By measuring and optimizing medical accessibility in Guangzhou under different travel time thresholds, we analyzed the optimization results of central, peripheral, and edge areas. The results show that (1) the model significantly improves the spatial equality of medical accessibility. After optimization, fewer locations have very low (or low) and very high (or high) accessibility, while more locations have moderate accessibility. When the travel time threshold is 22 min, the number of locations with medium accessibility level increases by about 18.86%. (2) The higher the travel time threshold, the greater is the overall optimization effect. (3) Different regions have different optimization effects and a larger travel time threshold can improve the optimization effect of the peripheral areas more significantly. It is recommended that new medical facilities be built in the peripheral and edge areas, along with improvements to the transport system.
Summary:
Background
- Spatial inequality in access to medical services is a major challenge
- Research has focused more on efficiency than equality of access
- Study looks at optimizing equality of access in Guangzhou, China
Methods
- Used G2SFCA model to measure medical accessibility, accounting for facility grade
- Added new facilities using maximum coverage location problem (MCLP)
- Formulated quadratic programming (QP) model to optimize bed numbers for equality
Results
- Model significantly improved spatial equality of accessibility
- More locations had moderate accessibility after optimization
- Larger travel time threshold gave greater optimization effect
Conclusions
- Considering facility grade gives more accurate accessibility picture
- Model effective at improving equality by increasing access in low areas and decreasing in high areas
- Higher travel time thresholds make it easier to improve equality
Study Questions and Answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How was medical accessibility measured? | Using G2SFCA model, accounting for facility grade |
| How were new facilities sited? | Using MCLP model to maximize coverage |
| What was the optimization goal? | Minimize standard deviation of accessibility across locations |
| What was a key finding? | Model significantly improved spatial equality of accessibility |
| How did travel time affect results? | Larger thresholds enabled greater optimization effects |
DOI: 10.3390/ijgi12070292