Improving inter-regional patient transfers during a pandemic represents a comprehensive and forward-thinking endeavor aimed at elevating the efficiency and equity of inter-regional patient transfers during pandemics. Operating within the broader context of crisis response and infectious disease outbreaks, particularly pandemics, the project is poised to make substantial advancements by developing prediction models for both infectious and non-infectious hospital arrivals and bed censuses. Complementing these predictive capabilities is the creation of sophisticated optimization models specifically designed to guide decision-making for interregional transfers when care resources are in high demand, with a central objective of ensuring an impartial and well-distributed allocation of care across diverse regions also taking into account non-infectious care. At its core, the project is not merely a technical endeavor; it carries profound societal implications by emphasizing the fundamental right to equitable care access during times of crisis, asserting the significance of care as a human right that must be upheld even in the face of pandemics. On the scientific front, the project's contributions extend beyond the routine, as it delves into the refinement of short-term prediction methodologies and introduces innovative optimization models, all underpinned by a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach. The synthesis of expertise from diverse fields, such as infectious diseases, mathematics, and operations management, reflects a strategic and holistic response to the multifaceted challenges presented by pandemics. The model approach weaves together statistical methods, queueing theory, stochastic optimization models, and simulation techniques. The project's feasibility and applicability are orchestrated through strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including hospitals, ROAZ (Regionaal Overleg Acute Zorgketen, Regional Consultation Body on Acute Care) regions, and LCPS (Landelijk Coördinatiecentrum Patiënten Spreiding, National Patient Spread Coordination Center)/LNAZ (Landelijk Netwerk Acute Zorg, National Acute Care Network). The implementation of a cloud-based solution for data control stands out as a testament to the project's commitment to safeguarding patient privacy, while the integration of a decision support system within LCPS enhances its potential for widespread national application. The partners' collective experience forms a solid backbone, instilling confidence in adhering to the project timeline, while proactive knowledge transfer activities are poised to amplify the dissemination and retention of invaluable project outcomes.
In conclusion, the project presents a holistic approach for interregional patient transfer in crisis times, leveraging data-driven models, interdisciplinary collaboration, prototype implementation, and stakeholder engagement to enhance patient allocation during infectious outbreaks, with implications for future research and care delivery beyond the project duration.