Designing of Economic Assessment Model for hospital

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Today, health care providers are faced with a complex environment that is rapidly changing. The main problem of health care organizations is economic problem. Health care organizations require sound and professional financial management practices to take proactive actions and efficiently and effectively reach their goals. Ratio Analysis helps hospitals to identify financial trends over a period of time or to make comparisons with similar hospitals. So they can truely identify strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of this study was to identify and design financial performance indicators for use in Iranian hospitals. Also this study aimed to design a financial evaluation model for hospitals based on the identified indicators. Methods: This study consists of five steps. At the first step, using a systematic review and three focus group discussions, the financial indicators that had been deemed to be important measures of hospital financial performance were identified. At the second step, a multidisciplinary panel of experts rated the indicators via two-round Delphi technique in two dimensions: importance and feasibility. Through the third step, the panel assessed the indicators at one consensus meeting and selected the final indicators. Then in a pilot study, indicators were calculated for teaching hospitals of Tabriz University and Medical Sciences at fourth step. Finally at fifth step, data were analyzed and a model proposed for the hospital financial evaluation. Results: ۱۰۲ financial indicators were identified from systematic review and focus group discussions. After conducting of Delphi technique in two rounds, ۷۹ indicators remained. After extensive debate and consideration in consensus meeting, finally, ٥٥ indicators were chosen as hospital financial assessment indicators. The results of the pilot study showed that ۱۲ indicators couldn't be calculated in studied hospitals. The proposed model is composed of ۷ financial performance dimensions. Each dimension consists of the indicators is related to that area. A formula was proposed for each area which in every indicator value is converted to a standard number. Conclusion: It is important for the health system managers and analysts to access the financial indicators for different types of hospitals. The availability of this information is the basic foundation for creating benchmark for hospital performance evaluation. Hospital managers can use the information derived from this study to better understanding of their organization's financial performance and to design the corrective actions.