Factors affecting financial indicators in selected hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences before and after health system reform plan

Management of financial resources in hospitals, one of the most expensive organizations in health care system, is of great importance. Hospital managers can boost hospital liquidity through analyzing the liquidity and its related factors. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting financial indicators in hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on eight hospitals before and after the implementation of the health system reform plan (2014 and 2016). All data related to liquidity, debt and profitability ratio and income was collected through a checklist extracted from accounting units, statistics, and hospital information system. Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient.

The implementation of the healthcare reform plan led to an increase in income per bed, profitability and liquidity ratios in all hospitals (p<0/05). Among the factors studied before the implementation of the health care reform plan, the income per bed (0.3) and the hospital annual income (0.22) were positively correlated with the liquidity ratio. After the implementation of the health care reform plan, these coefficients were 0.33 and 0.31, respectively. However, factors, such as the debt and profitability ratio were negatively related to the liquidity ratio.

Managers should give the highest priority to factors, such as debt and income status of hospitals to improve the financial condition of hospitals.