Data Envelopment Analysis Applications on Primary Health Care Using Exogenous Variables and Health Outcomes

Abstract

A data envelopment analysis was used to evaluate the efficiency of 18 primary healthcare centres in a health district of the Valencian Community, Spain. Factor analysis was used as a first step in order to identify the most explanatory variables to be incorporated in the models. Included as variable inputs were the ratios of general practitioners, nurses, and costs; as output variables, those included were consultations, emergencies, avoidable hospitalisations, and prescription efficiency; as exogenous variables, those included were the percentage of population over 65 and a multimorbidity index. Confidence intervals were calculated using bootstrapping to correct possible biases. Efficient organisations within the set were identified, although the results depend on the models used and the introduction of exogenous variables. Pharmaceutical expenditure showed the greatest slack and room for improvement in its management. Data envelopment analysis allows an evaluation of efficiency that is focussed on achieving better results and a proper distribution and use of healthcare resources, although it needs the desired goals of the healthcare managers to be clearly identified, as the perspective of the analysis influences the results, as does including variables that measure the achievements and outcomes of the healthcare services.

The Balanced Allocation of Medical and Health Resources in Urban Areas of China from the Perspective of Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Nanjing

“…Subsequently, Banker R. D. further liberalized the conditions of the assumption and modified it to variable return scale, namely the Banker, Charnes, and Cooper model (BCC) [47], where technical efficiency (TE) can be further divided into pure technical efficiency (PTE) and scale efficiency (SE). Considering that the return scale is generally variable in practice, the BCC model was selected in this paper to evaluate the efficiency of medical and health resource allocation [48].…”

Performance Evaluation of Production Lines in a Manufacturing Company Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)

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“…The companies analysed were chosen from the region as "food retail grocery store". A data envelopment analysis was used to evaluate the efficiency of primary healthcare centres in a health district using variable inputs such as the ratios of general practitioners, nurses, and costs; with output variables such as those included were consultations, emergencies, avoidable hospitalisations, and prescription efficiency [37]. In their work, the DEA allows an evaluation of efficiency that is focused on achieving better results and proper distribution and use of healthcare resources with clearly identified desired goals by the healthcare managers.…”

Medida de la eficiencia en atención primaria: fronteras eficientes y modelos no paramétricos condicionados

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