The feasibility of centralization specialized services in health centers of social security in Tehran

Health service providers to increase efficiency, reduce costs, efficient use of resources, improve quality of their services, more efficient education and develop specialized skills, adopt centralization strategy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the necessity and feasibility of centralization specialized care services in social security health centers. The statistical population of this research is the health centers affiliated to Tehran Social Security Organization. Data gathering tools in this research include: literature review, documentation and data sources of health centers and expert panels. The findings show that, if the facility is centralized, The ratio of the number of actual surgery to the number of potential surgery increase for ophthalmic equipment from 11.9% to 27% and for optometrists from 17.3% to 21%; for the ENT equipment from 0.9% to 2.5%, and for ENT specialists from 15.8% to 24.3%; for urology equipment from 1.9% to 6.9% , and for urology specialists from 14.8% to 21.5%. According to the findings of the study, it was revealed that existing capacities and facilities have not used efficiently, and if there are necessary conditions for centralization of facilities at the reference centers, will increase the efficiency.