Improving Medical Care: Optimizing Network Design

When the Ebola virus swept through West Africa from April 2014 to March 2015, the urgency to effectively treat patients was paramount. Understanding where to place medical centers for rapid treatment became a critical task for NGOs and government agencies. By applying a strategic supply chain approach (similar to locating stores for customers or positioning manufacturing plants near warehouses) we can significantly improve healthcare outcomes. To optimize the placement of medical centers, I used a linear programming model. My goal was to minimize the travel distance between patients and medical centers.

Key Takeaways

This model revealed that strategically redistributing existing resources could dramatically cut travel distances for patients by over 1,000 people-miles. In Sierra Leone, targeting outlying areas like Kono and Jui could capture an additional 53% of cases.

Sample code here