Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Healthcare Facility Location
Summary
Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) offers a structured approach to selecting optimal healthcare facility locations by systematically integrating quantitative and qualitative criteria. This process addresses the inherent complexity of site selection, wherein planners must balance factors such as accessibility, cost efficiency, demand distribution, infrastructure capacity, environmental impact and stakeholder preferences. Implementation often involves establishing a hierarchical framework of criteria and sub-criteria, assigning weights to reflect their relative importance, and aggregating performance scores for candidate sites. Common techniques include the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), alongside fuzzy and hybrid extensions to manage uncertainty. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) frequently support spatial data analysis, enabling visualisation of service areas, population density and transport networks. Recent advances incorporate neutrosophic soft sets to capture indeterminate information, enhance stakeholder engagement through multi-attribute deliberation, and integrate social and environmental considerations to promote equitable access. Applications span urban and rural settings, pandemic response planning and sustainable development goals, demonstrating global relevance and practical value for investment decisions and policy-making.
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Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Healthcare Facility Location publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in multi-criteria decision analysis for healthcare facility location across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA): A systematic procedure for evaluating and ranking alternatives based on multiple, often conflicting criteria.
Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP): A structured technique for assigning weights to criteria and sub-criteria through pair-wise comparisons.
TOPSIS: A ranking method that identifies alternatives closest to an ideal solution and furthest from a nadir solution.
Fuzzy set theory: A mathematical approach to model uncertainty and vagueness by allowing partial membership of elements in sets.
Geographic Information System (GIS): A software system for capturing, storing, analysing and visualising spatial data.
Neutrosophic soft set: An extension of fuzzy sets incorporating degrees of truth, indeterminacy and falsity to address complex uncertainties.
References
- An algorithmic multiple attribute decision-making context to model uncertainty associated with hospital site selection problem using complex sv-neutrosophic soft information. Applied Artificial Intelligence (2024).
- Application of fuzzy multicriteria decision-making model in selecting pandemic hospital site. Future Business Journal (2023).
- GIS-Enabled Multi-Criteria Assessment for Hospital Site Suitability: A Case Study of Tehran. Sustainability (2024).
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