Assessing the Efficiency of Hospitals in Semnan Province Using Data Envelopment Analysis with Input Nature

Abstract

Introduction: Hospitals as the centers that consume the most resource of health system, based on their function have difference performance and efficiency. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficiency of hospitals in Semnan province using data envelopment analysis with input nature.

Methods: This research is an applied one in terms of purpose and a survey and descriptive one in terms of nature. The data envelopment analysis technique, the cover form, and the input nature with the assumption of variable returns versus the scale, was used. relative efficiency of 13 hospitals in Semnan province were analyzed between 1394and 1395. The necessary information was extracted from scientific documents, and the data related to input and output indices were collected from vice chancellor for Administration and TUMS. The collected data were then analyzed by GAMS.

Results: The averages efficiency of hospitals, during the years 1393-1395, were 0.81, 0.82, and 0.76, respectively. 0.38 percent of hospitals had constant return to scale, 0.38 percent had decreasing return to scale and 0.23 percent of them had increasing return to scale. Therefore, 0.76 percent of hospitals did not have the capacity to develop beyond the status quo.

Conclusion: Most hospitals are not efficient. The performance of inefficient hospitals can be improved following the patterns used by reference hospitals and also by better financial and human resources management. This research introduces a functional pattern to senior managers of the health sector, enabling them to have more accurate planning for capacity development and resource saving.