Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Performance Indicators of Academic and Non-academic Hospitals in West Azerbaijan Province in 2020

Hospitals are the most important pillar of the country›s health system, especially when faced with a crisis. One ofthe most important indicators in evaluating hospitals is performance indicators. This research was done to investigate the effect ofthe COVID-19 pandemic on the performance indicators of academic and non-academic hospitals in West Azerbaijan provincein 2020. The present cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was done on all academic and non-academic hospitals of WestAzerbaijan province, which examined their performance indicators in 2019 and 2020. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16software by repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of repeated-measures ANOVA demonstrated that the effect of time (coronavirus) on the index of bedoccupancy ratio was significant (η2 = 0.24, P = 0.006) so that it decreased this index in academic hospitals and had the oppositeresult in non-academic hospitals. The COVID-19 had a significant effect on the index of average patient stay (η2 = 0.47, P < 0.001)and this index in both types of hospitals increased. Also, the COVID-19 had a significant effect on bed turnover rate (η2 = 0.32,P = 0.001) and it decreased in both types of hospitals. Since academic hospitals are more responsible in dealing with epidemics, it is suggested to pay more attentionto their infrastructures. Considering the financial burden of some non-communicable diseases, academic hospitals should beprepared to accept and support them, especially in the early period of the epidemic.