Clinical engineering technology assessment decision support: a case study using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)

This case study showed how the AHP decision support technique can be applied to clinical engineering health technology assessment projects. AHP provides a structured method of organizing and documenting the decision process and takes into consideration the many tradeoffs that exist between alternate choices. When an AHP model is properly designed and implemented, it facilitates interdepartmental and interdisciplinary communication and results in a decision support tool that represents a consensus model. The AHP model can then be used to compare health technology alternatives and delivers a composite score for each alternative that identifies the best choice. AHP produces a clinical engineering decision support tool for the hospital that identifies the best technology alternative for their specific need. Further, the model can be updated or adapted to different medical technologies whenever needed, so the development investment is not wasted.