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Data envelopment analysis-based comparative analysis for operational efficiency of upper first-class general hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai

TANG Lei1, ZHANG Wei2, YUAN Hui-yun2, TAO Rong3   

  1. 1.Department of Hospital Administration, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; 2.Department of Publicity, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; 3.Vision of Human Resources, Shanghai Shenkang Hospital Development Center, Shanghai 200041, China
  • Online:2014-01-28 Published:2014-01-29
  • Supported by:

    Humanities and Social Sciences Innovation Foundation of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, WK201309

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Abstract:

Objective To compare operational efficiency, characteristics, and shortage of upper first-class general hospitals (UFGHs) in Beijing and Shanghai by using data envelopment analysis (DEA) method, and to provide suggestions and discuss the evaluation of DEA method. Methods Four input indexes and 4 output indexes in 2009 of 12 UFGHs in Shanghai and 12 UFGHs in Beijing were collected. BCC model of DEA method was used to analyze the operational efficiency of these hospitals. Results The operational efficiency and ratio of efficiency of UFGHs in Beijing and Shanghai were higher than hospitals in other cities of China. Compared to Beijing, the overall efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency of UFGHs in Shanghai were higher, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05). In non-DEA effective hospitals in Shanghai, there was redundancy of open beds and fixed assets investment. There were significant differences in total employees and fixed assets investment of input and output indexes of UFGHs in both cities (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusion DEA is an effective method to evalute multiple inputs and outputs of hospitals and an assisted tool for hospital management and health decision making. The hospitals′ operational efficiency in Beijing and Shanghai are equivalent in high level. The way to increase hospitals′ operational efficiency is controlling scale and input, strengthening internal constructions, reducing operational costs, rationally allocating medical resources, and constantly improving the management level in refinement, specialization, and scientization.

Key words: data envelopment analysis, operational efficiency, upper first-class general hospitals