Study on the performance based payment imapct on efficiency of clinical laboratory in Imam Reza teaching hospital of Tabriz

Pay-for-performance (P4P) is a payment model which tries to pay for the measured aspects of performance and encourage health care providers by providing financial incentives in order to achieve pre-defined goals. This research was done to assess the impact of P4P on efficiency of medical laboratory of Imam Reza hoapital in Tabriz in 2013.

This interventional research was a before-and-after study. In order to recognize any changes، efficiency indexes of laboratory were measured and compared whole the year. The data were collected manually assessing the related documents. For comparing efficiency before and after intervention، descriptive statistics were used.

Findings showed that costs didn’t differ significantly after the intervention، but revenue was a little increased (14364 to 16874). Laboratory errors were also increased after the intervention. (0 to 17 cases).

Regarding the little positive impact of P4P on costs and revenues and comparing other similar studies، we can conclude that this bonus payment system can be used in all care-providing levels such as primary health care centers، drug stores، diagnostic centers and hospitals through setting pre-defined goals and considering negative point for any staff who makes an error.