Research on the optimize doctor-patient matching in China

Abstract

In China, patients are given the opportunity to know background information about their doctors, and patients choose their doctors to see. Due to the shortage of medical resources and the uncertainty of the quality of medical services, as well as some external factors, patients will prefer to choose well-known doctors in the hope of getting a better medical experience. In order to match the preferred healthcare resources, they may choose to lie to increase the chance of visiting the doctor. This study adopts a combination of theoretical modeling and algorithmic simulation. Through theoretical analysis, a framework model of doctor-patient matching is established. Doctors with different skills and experience, who select patients according to their conditions and their own preferences in the matching process, as well as patients with different conditions and preferences, who want to receive treatment by matching to a suitable doctor, are clarified. The Deferred Acceptance algorithm is written and operated to simulate the matching process where patients apply to doctors and doctors are screened based on their priorities. Analyze and evaluate the performance of Strategy-Proofness and Pareto Efficiency in matching by iterating the algorithm. In this case, the DA algorithm establishes a stable match between the patient and the physician despite the possibility that the patient may deceive his/her preferences. However, patient behavior may affect the efficiency and fairness of the matching process, highlighting the importance of transparency and integrity of the doctor-patient matching system.