Analyzing the efficiencies of hospitals: an application of data envelopment analysis

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficiencies of hospitals in Turkey with respect to their own-erships (i.e. state, education & research, university and private) for the years 2001 to 2006. The impact of health care reforms on the efficiencies is also examined in order to highlight possible policy impli-cations for policy makers. Comparative performance evaluation of hospitals has been achieved by using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) as well as Malmquist Index calculations (i.e. to determine the direction and degree of yearly changes in performance), super efficiency analysis and slack evaluations. According to the findings, hospital ownership significantly influences hospital efficien-cies. The influence of health care reforms on hospital efficiency has been observed especially for the state and private hospitals. The average efficiencies of state hospitals remarkably increase while the average efficiencies of private hospitals decrease especially after the starting of reforms in the state-owned hospitals. This paper adds value to the current body of research by addressing the impact of hospital ownerships and health care reforms to the efficiencies of Turkish hospitals. There are similar studies of Data Envelopment Analysis applied for hospitals in several other countries. Researchers may compare the results of this study with the findings of other studies.

Hospital Efficiency ,

Hospital Ownership ,

Data Envelopment Analysis ,

Turkey ,