Maintenance Strategy Selection based on Medical Equipment Prioritization

Medical equipment maintenance is crucial for enhancing availability, ensuring healthcare quality, and achieving patient satisfaction. However, research in medical equipment maintenance remains limited compared to other sectors. Maintenance within the healthcare sector is marked by various manufacturers' diverse array of equipment, rendering the selection of an optimal maintenance strategy (corrective, preventive, predictive) for each device a cumbersome process. This study aims to prioritize medical equipment on the basis of their criticality and subsequently select the appropriate maintenance strategy. Prioritization criteria are identified through a literature review and insights from a focus group. Subsequently, the AHP method is employed to assign weights to prioritization criteria. Medical equipment is evaluated regarding each prioritization criterion and attributed a criticality score using the AHP-derived weights. Medical devices are ranked based on the computed criticality scores, which guides decision makers in choosing the most adequate maintenance approach.