Title: An integrated approach of AHP-DEMATEL methods applied for the selection of allied hospitals in outpatient service

Authors: Miguel A. Ortíz; Johana P. Cómbita; Álvaro A. De la Hoz; Fabio De Felice; Antonella Petrillo

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad de la Costa CUC, Barranquilla, Colombia ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad de la Costa CUC, Barranquilla, Colombia ' Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad de la Costa CUC, Barranquilla, Colombia ' Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Via G. Di Biasio, 43, 03043 Cassino (FR), Italy ' Department of Engineering, University of Naples 'Parthenope', Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Napoli (NA), Italy

Abstract: Nowadays, the citizens are more aware of high-quality medical care than ever. They pay much attention to medical treatment safety, instructions from physicians, and the overall service quality performed by the hospital. To manage a hospital successfully, the important goals are to attract and then retain as many patients as possible by meeting potential demands of various kinds of the patients. In this context, the decision making process is important in order to achieve a strategic decision and strategy. When the decision making problem occurs there is usually a limited number of possible alternatives but a large number of criteria according to which the optimal solution is selected. It is important to use an appropriate approach. This study presents a hybrid methodological approach based on the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method and analytic hierarchy process method to define the best allied hospital for an integrated network of outpatient service. The goal of this paper is to present a methodological approach and a practical application of hybrid method in a real case study.

Keywords: DEMATEL; analytical hierarchy process; AHP; multicriteria decision making; MCDM; allied hospitals; outpatient services; integrated networks; case study; healthcare services; outpatients.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMEI.2016.075760

International Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics, 2016 Vol.8 No.2, pp.87 - 107

Received: 03 Sep 2015
Accepted: 14 Nov 2015

Published online: 01 Apr 2016 *

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