INTRODUCTION

1. Balancing Tradeoff Between Efficiency and Equity in Organ Transplantation - An AHP Approach Vijay M. Veerachandran., Nan Kong., PhDIndustrial & Management Systems Engineering ABSTRACTThis research is intended to make recommendations on optimal allocation policy development. Liver transplantation and allocation has been a controversial issue in the U.S for decades. One of the main concerns in the allocation system is the trade-off between the two main objectives, efficiency and equity. Unfortunately, it is difficult to reach consensus among transplantation policy makers, administrators, transplant surgeons and transplant candidates, etc, on how to develop allocation policies that aim at balancing efficiency and equity. • PROBLEM DEFINITION • Organ transplant dilemma • Over 91,500 people are waiting for the gift of life • End Stage Liver Disease is the 12th leading cause of death • Liver transplantation is the only viable cure • Rapidly increasing waiting list of diseased patients AHP uses pair-wise comparison of different criteria and the hierarchy model embedded in the AHP prioritizes the objectives by assigning associated weights. Alternative policy configurations are input into a simulation model and comparisons between these configurations with respect to specific attributes are made. Hierarchy model of or research problem is represented below INTRODUCTION United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) maintains donor/ patient information database. It has established an organ sharing system that maximizes the use of deceased organs. It has also developed policies steering the distribution of organs to matched patients based on a variety of attributes. Despite the effort by UNOS regarding the policy development, organ allocation has been a controversial issue in terms of balance system efficiency and equity. • METHODOLOGY :Analytic Hierarchy Process • AHP is a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methodology which helps people make better decisions when faced with important complex problems that involve trade-offs among competitive objectives. • Pair-wise comparison • Simple evaluation & representation of the solutions • Tangible and Intangible criteria • Logic arguments & clearing emotions • Checking quality of your decision • Little need of time • High acceptance within your team • RESEARCH PLAN • Identify potential attributes • Ask for expert opinions* regarding important attributes • Consider different strategies from the simulation model* Formulate the AHP model. • Acquire outcomes from the simulation model • Using pair-wise comparison to priority the attributes based on the outcomes • Interpret the results. • *Experts can be either liver transplantation decision makers or experienced physicians. • *The Simulation model represents real life scenario AKNOWLEDGEMENTS Abc abdc anc ancd