Preparedness for epidemic disease or bioterrorism: Minimum cost planning for the location and staffing of urban point-of-dispensing centers

William M. Bowen, PhD; Jen-Yi Chen, PhD; Oya I. Tukel, PhD

doi:10.5055/jem.2014.0204

Authors

William M. Bowen, PhD
Jen-Yi Chen, PhD
Oya I. Tukel, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2014.0204

Keywords:

urban emergency planning, bioterrorism, point-of-dispensing planning, infectious disease, biosecurity, integer programming

Abstract

Urban health authorities in the United States have been charged with developing plans for providing the infrastructure necessary to dispense prophylactic medications to their populations in the case of epidemic disease outbreak or bioterrorist attack. However, no specific method for such plans has been prescribed. This article formulates and demonstrates the use of an integer programming technique for helping to solve a part of the dispensing problem faced by cities, namely that of providing the federally required infrastructure at minimum cost, using their limited time and resources. Specifically, the technique minimizes the number of point-of-dispensing (POD) centers while covering every resident in all the census tracts within the city's jurisdiction. It also determines the optimal staffing requirement in terms of the number of nurses at each POD. This article includes a demonstration of the model using real data from Cleveland, OH, a mid-sized US city. Examples are provided of data and computational results for a variety of input parameter values such as population throughput rate, POD capacities, and distance limitations. The technique can be readily adapted to a wide range of urban areas.

Author Biographies

William M. Bowen, PhD

Professor of Urban Studies and Public Policy, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Jen-Yi Chen, PhD

Assistant Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management, Monte Ahuja College of Business, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio

Oya I. Tukel, PhD

Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management, Monte Ahuja College of Business, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio

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