Identification and Prioritization of Optimal Places for Locating Urban Hospitals by Combining the F-ANP, F-WASPAS Methods, and GIS Output in the ArcGIS Environment: Case Study: Arak City

Health-medical facilities are among the applications that, if incorrectly located, in addition to the economic and financial necessities that come with it, may lead to irreparable loss of life. Geographical location is a critical component of access to medical services. Therefore, the significance of the optimal and convenient location of this type of usage is multiplied. This study aimed to determine the hospital’s optimal locations and provide easy access, better service, customer and patient satisfaction, and public welfare to all segments of society in Iran, the Markazi province, and Arak city. For this purpose, a combination of Geographic Information System (GIS) output and integrated Analytic Network Process-Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (ANP-WASPAS) model in a fuzzy environment was used. First, effective criteria for locating the hospital were selected based on the literature, national standards and regulations, expert opinion, and the location and geographical conditions of the area. The criteria were then weighted by experts using the Fuzzy ANP (F-ANP) method. Then, according to the criteria and final weights, the desired maps were created in the ArcGIS software environment. The results were then combined using fie fuzzy operators. As a result, optimal and suitable locations for the hospital were introduced. Finally, using the Fuzzy WASPAS (F-WASPAS) method, the identified locations were prioritized.