An artificial neural networks approach in managing healthcare Online publication date: Mon, 16-Jul-2007
by Michael Iheoma Okoroh, Benedict Dozie Ilozor, Peter Gombera
International Journal of Electronic Healthcare (IJEH), Vol. 3, No. 3, 2007
Abstract: Hospitals as learning organisations have evolved through complex phases of service failures and continuous service improvement to meet the business needs of a varied continuum of care customers. This paper explores the use of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) in the development of a decision support system to manage healthcare non-clinical services. The information (postal questionnaires and repertory grid interviews) used to develop the input to the National Healthcare Service Facilities Risk Exposure System (NHSFRES) was articulated from 60 experienced healthcare operators. The system provides a reasonable early warning signal to the healthcare managers, and can be used by decision makers to evaluate the severity of risks on healthcare non clinical business operations. The advantage of using NHSFRES is that healthcare managers can provide their own risk assessment values (point score system) based on their own healthcare management business knowledge/judgement and corporate objectives.
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