Objective To conduct risk assessment analysis through risk assessment model for postoperative pneumonia (POP) in surgical departments constructed according to analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-risk matrix, and evaluate the application effectiveness of the model. Methods Taking a tertiary comprehensive teaching hospital as an example, a risk assessment was conducted on the occurrence of POP in 15 surgical departments in 2022. The application effect of POP risk assessment model for the surgical departments constructed based on the AHP-risk matrix was evaluated, and the POP risk level of the surgical departments was determined. Results Through application of risk assessment model, the POP risk level of the surgical departments was divided into 5 levels, namely extremely high risk (n=3), high risk (n=1), medium risk (n=5), low risk (n=4), and extremely low risk (n=2). Conclusion The application effect of the surgical POP risk assessment model based on AHP-risk matrix method is good, achieving quantitative assessment of healthcare-associated infection risk, and providing data basis and support for further targeted risk control.