Combining multiple indicators to assess hospital performance in Iran using the Pabon Lasso Model.

BACKGROUND One of the most important and useful models for assessing hospital performance is the Pabon Lasso Model, a graphical model that determines the relative performance of hospitals using three indicators: 1. Bed Occupancy Rate (BOR); 2. Bed Turnover (BTO); 3) Average Length of Stay (ALS). The aim of this research is to investigate the performance of the hospitals affiliated with Urmia University of Medical Sciences in Iran during the year 2009 based on the Pabon Lasso Model. METHOD This cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken in 2009. All the 23 hospitals affiliated with Urmia University of Medical Sciences were included. To ensure accuracy and reliability of data, the required data on BOR, BTO, and the ALS were accumulated by referring to the Statistical Year Book of the Urmia University of Medical Sciences. Data analysis was performed using the Pabon Lasso Model and SPSS 16 statistical software. RESULTS Across all hospitals, the following average results for each performance indicator were obtained: ALS = 2.84 days, BOR = 63.55% and BTO = 85.44 times per year. Six hospitals were located in the Pabon Lasso Model zone 1, two hospitals in zone 2, eight hospitals in zone 3, and seven hospitals in zone 4 of the model. CONCLUSION The study showed that 60.87% of the studied hospitals had low performance in terms of either BOR or BTO, or both. Thus, the analysis on why that low performance may have occurred, and suggestions to enhance future performance, is provided.