Evaluation of Technical Efficiency of Hospitals during COVID-19 Crisis: A Case Study of Kohgiloyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Hospitals

Background: Hospitals are the most important executive part of healthcare systems. During COVID-19 crisis, they faced a sudden demand, and spent the hospital resources and equipment in order to provide treatment services to COVID-19 patients. Considering that the provision of services was focused on these patients, the efficiency of hospitals during this crisis was not clear. The purpose of the current research is to investigate the efficiency of hospitals affiliated with Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad University of medical sciences, as well as the imaging units as the most important diagnostic department in the time of this pandemic. Methods: This was a quantitative and retrospective study which examining technical efficiency of 6 hospitals affiliated with Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad University of medical sciences. In addition, the technical efficiency of the imaging units (CT scan, radiology and ultrasound) in these hospitals was evaluated. Technical efficiency was calculated and compared through different scenarios based on different inputs and outputs during the pandemic. The model used in this research was multi-stage DEA. To analyze the data, the output maximization model and variable returns to scale were used. Relevant data were collected for a one-year period, from October 2020 to October 2021. Technical efficiency was calculated using Deap 2.1. Results: The average technical efficiency of the hospitals affiliated with Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad University of medical sciences during COVID-19 pandemic was 0.80 which was satisfactory. The average efficiency of CT scan, ultrasound and radiology units in the studied hospitals and based on the defined scenarios was 0.67, 0.44 and 0.40, respectively. This shows that the ultrasound and radiology units are far from efficient. Conclusion: The hospitals under study as well as CT scan units were efficient during COVID-19 crisis. Examining the efficiency of the returns compared to the scale showed that increasing the number of beds as well as the equipment would not increase efficiency. Paying attention to the needs of population under study and financing them accordingly, would lead to the financial efficiency of the hospitals.