Skip to main content
Log in

Technical Efficiencies of Turkish Hospitals: DEA Approach

  • Published:
Journal of Medical Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study uses Data Envelopment Analysis to examine the technical efficiencies of 573 Turkish acute general hospitals. Inputs of number of beds, number of primary care physicians, and number of specialists, and how they are used to produce outputs of inpatient discharges, outpatient visits, and surgical operations, are examined. Results illustrate that less than ten percent of Turkish acute general hospitals operate efficiently compared to their counterparts. Inefficient, compared to efficient hospitals, on average utilize 32% more specialists, 47% more primary care physicians, and have 119% more staffed bed capacity. They also produce on average less output. Particularly, 13% less outpatient visits, 16% inpatient hospitalization, and 57% less surgical procedures. Additionally, the validity of DEA is illustrated by comparing it to the ratio analysis method; no discernible differences in the results are found.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Schieber, G. J., and Poullier, J.-P., Greenwald, L. M., Health system performance in OECD Countries, 1980–1990. Health Affairs. 13(4):100–112, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Tokat, M., Turkiye de Saglik Sektorunun Finansmani. 1997 (In press).

  3. Price Waterhouse. Health Mater Plan of Turkey: Final Report. Ankara: Prime Ministry, SPO. 1990.

  4. Vassiliou, L., and Tokat, M., Issues and operations in health financing in Turkey. Report No. 8042-TU Document of World Bank, Geneva.

  5. Sexton, R. T., The methodology of Data Envelopment Analysis. Efficiency: An Assessment of Data Envelopment Analysis (R. H. Silkman, ed.), Jossey-Bassy, Inc., SAn Francisco, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Sherman, D. H., Hospital efficiency measurement and evaluation: Empirical tests of a new technique. Med. Care 22(10):922–938, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Charnes, A., Cooper, W., Lewin, A. Y., and Seiford, L. M., Data Envelopment Analysis: Theory, Methodology, and Applications, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Norwell, Massachusetts, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ozcan, Y. A., and Lynch, J. R., Rural hospital closures: An inquiry into efficiency. Adv. Health Econ. Health Serv. Res. 13:205–224, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Chilingerian, J., and Sherman, D. H., Managing physician efficiency and effectiveness in providing hospital services. Health Serv. Manag. Rev. 3(1):3–15, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Grosskopf, S., and Valdmanis, V., Measuring hospital performance. J. Health Econ. 6:89–107, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ozcan, Y. A., and Luke R. D., A National Study of the efficiency of hospitals in urban markets. Health Serv. Res. 38:719–739, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ozcan Y. A., and Cotter, J. J., An assessment of efficiency of area agencies on aging in Virginia through Data Envelopment Analysis. Gerontol. 34:363–370, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ozcan Y. A., Luke, R. D., and Haksever, C., Ownership and organizational performance: A comparison of technical efficiency across hospital types. Med. Care 30:781–794, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ozcan, Y. A., Sensitivity analysis of hospital efficiency under alternative output/input and peer groups: A review. Knowledge Pol. 5(4):1–29, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Sherman, D. H., Managing productivity of health care organizations. Measuring Efficiency: An Assessment of Data Envelopment Analysis. New Directions for Program Evaluation (R. H. Silkman, ed.), Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ali, A. I., Integrated Data Envelopment Analysis System Version 5.1, Amherst, MA, 1995.

  17. Ozcan, Y. A., and Bannick, R. R., Trends in Department of Defense Hospital Efficiency. J. Med. Sys. 18(2):69–83, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ersoy, K., Kavuncubasi, S., Ozcan, Y.A. et al. Technical Efficiencies of Turkish Hospitals: DEA Approach. Journal of Medical Systems 21, 67–74 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022801222540

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022801222540

Navigation