Title: Adding value in healthcare service by improving operational efficiency using Data Envelopment Analysis

Authors: P. Sunil Dharmapala

Addresses: College of Commerce and Economics, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 20, Al-Khod 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

Abstract: Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) has been used in several studies in healthcare service. There, the authors primarily utilised the traditional Charnes-Cooper-Rhodes (CCR) and Banker-Charnes-Cooper (BCC) models to measure relative efficiency of decision-making units, and their main focus was on efficient units. In this paper, using the CCR model with Intrinsic Assurance Region (IAR), we focus on how to conserve resources and eliminate wastes by projecting inefficient units on to the efficient frontier. By analysing a set of data from hospitals that operate in a non-market non-profit environment, we demonstrate how to add value in healthcare service by improving technical efficiency of inefficient hospitals.

Keywords: DEA; data envelopment analysis; IAR; intrinsic assurance region; inefficiency; healthcare services; value added; operational efficiency; efficiency improvement; resource conservation; waste elimination; inefficient hospitals.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOR.2009.024530

International Journal of Operational Research, 2009 Vol.5 No.1, pp.73 - 88

Published online: 08 Apr 2009 *

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