The goal of LAIfeBlood project is to provide IPST with new tools to improve efficiency of blood supply operations in Portugal. LAIfeBlood project is particularly focused on: (1) extracting temporal and geographical patterns from historical collection and transfusion data; (2) developing predictive models for the expected collections and transfusions in different temporal and geographic areas; and (3) developing software tools to optimize the planning of collections at the national level according to the availability of IPST teams and resources and collection events.

Emergency medical services in mainland Portugal are coordinated by Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica (INEM). In most cases, medical emergency situations are reported to INEM through a phone call to the 112 number, where specialized medical staff classifies the emergency situation and dispatches the proper emergency vehicle (ambulance, helicopter, life-support vehicle, among other) along with medical staff. Each vehicle is equipped to deal with different situations from light injuries to life-support.

The ImproveOR project aims at improving efficiency in surgical care delivery and at improving access to surgical care, as a result of an increase of the operating room responsiveness to surgical demand and a better coordination between surgical supply and demand. Decision support tools are developed combining optimization approaches to assist resource capacity planning decisions in the operating room with structured participatory approaches to capture stakeholders’ views and preferences regarding the surgical patient flows and the planning and scheduling of surgeries.