System dynamics modeling to optimize emergency responders’ emergency and nonemergency efforts: Case study of Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering combating weapons of mass destruction response capabilities

Abstract

Objectives: The authors applied a system dynamics model to the problem of optimizing the balance of emergency response training with routine work tasks using a case study of US Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering units.
Design: A system dynamics model was constructed using available work time inputs for emergency response training and routine task execution. The model generated estimates of task proficiency for emergency and routine tasks.
Setting: The study was conducted using a case study of management of US Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering units.
Main outcome measures: The model generated estimates of task proficiency (0-100 percent) for emergency and nonemergency tasks based on time allocation policy inputs.
Results: The optimal balance to maintain both emergency and nonemergency task proficiency at or above 70 percent was to have an intensive 2-week period of 35 h/wk devoted to emergency response training, followed by a constant 21 h/wk (52.5 percent of available effort) to emergency response training.
Conclusions: The results reinforce the popular notion that an organization with a significant amount of effort devoted to routine tasks that differ from emergency response tasks will not be able to approach 100 percent readiness task proficiency without significant degradation of routine task proficiency. Synergy of routine task selection to enhance readiness proficiency is essential to maintain emergency response capabilities.