Evaluating the Performance of Medical Equipment Supply Chain Management in Military Hospitals: A Case Study

Abstract

Background and Aim: The medical equipment supply chain management is one of the main challenges for hospitals and medical centers. Meanwhile, military hospitals need more serious attention because of their critical position. The purpose of this study is to identify and prioritize the factors affecting the management of medical equipment supply chain in a military hospital in Tehran and finally evaluating the performance of the hospital in this regard. Methods: At first, by examining previous researches and interviewing with some of staff and hospital managers, the influential factors in the management of the medical equipment supply chain were identified. in this regard, The MAXQDA 2020 software was used for this purpose. Then, effective methods were weighed using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Finally, the current performance of the hospital was assessed using a questionnaire. Results: Based on the findings, the factors affecting the supply chain of medical equipment supply were divided into 5 general categories. These 5 categories which found their weights obtained from fuzzy AHP, respectively: Resources and stakeholders, internal operations management, sustainability, integrity and information management. Also, the results of the performance evaluation showed that the current condition of the hospital is 43%, which is actually less than the acceptable level. Conclusion: The importance of medical equipment supply chain management is not only due to its important role in the quality of treatment but also because of its major contribution to the hospital's operating budget. It should be noted that the factors affecting this issue are directly and indirectly related to each other. Finally, identifying weaknesses and proper planning to improve them can amend the condition of the hospital and ultimately enhance patient satisfaction.