Assessment of the Efficiency of Hospitals Before and After the Implementation of Health Sector Evolution Plan in Iran Based on Pabon Lasso Model

BACKGROUND: Pabon Lasso model was applied to assess the relative performance of hospitals affiliated to Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (KUMS) before and after the implementation of Health Sector Evolution Plan (HSEP) in Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 11 public hospitals affiliated to KUMS in 2015. Twelve months before and after the implementation of the first phase of HSEP, a checklist was used to collect data from computerized databases within the hospitals’ admission and discharge units. Pabon Lasso model includes three indices: bed turnover, bed occupancy ratio, and average length of stay. RESULTS: Analysis of hospital performance showed an increase in mean of bed occupancy and turnover ratio, which changed from 65.40% and 86.22 times/year during 12 months before to 69.97% and 90.98 times/year during 12 months after HSEP, respectively. In line with Pabon Lasso model, before the implementation of HSEP, 27.27% and 36.36% of the hospitals were entirely efficient and inefficient, respectively, whilst after the implementation of HSEP, their condition changed to 18.18% and 27.27%, in order. CONCLUSION: Indicators of bed occupancy and turnover ratio had a 4% increase in the studied hospitals after the implementation of HSEP. Number of the hospitals in the efficient zone reduced because of the relative measurement of efficiency by Pabon Lasso model. Since more than 50% of the hospitals in the studied province have not yet reached their optimal bed occupancy ratio (more than 70%), short-term and suitable strategy for improving the efficiency is to stop further expansion of hospitals as well as developing the number of hospital beds.