A location-allocation model for implementing telemedicine services in primary healthcare network

Abstract

With the advent of communication technology, a rise in the use of telemedicine services in healthcare is being observed. Telemedicine services facilitate the patients seeking primary care in getting the desired service smoothly. Moreover, telemedicine services also assist in controlling over-crowding in public healthcare facilities and thereby improve their utilization. Developing a systematic healthcare network involving telemedicine services can be a cost-effective approach for managing limited healthcare resources. In this article, a location-allocation optimization model is proposed for implementing telemedicine services in the primary healthcare network. Model performance is demonstrated by means of numerical experiments and useful policy directives have been derived. A case study is also conducted to show an implementation of the optimization model.