Relationship between Performance Indicators and Hospital Evaluation Score at Hospitals affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences

Hospitals have a key role in providing health services as the main element of health system and have a wide impact on health system performance. They require ongoing and permanent monitoring and evaluation. This study was conducted in order to investigate the relationship between performance indicators and evaluation grade of hospitals affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences.

This descriptive and cross-sectional study was done in 2010. The study population was all hospitals affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences. To achieve accurate and reliable information, the required data were extracted from the statistical yearbook of Urmia University of Medical Sciences and Deputy of Health Services. The data were analyzed by statistical software SPSS and Spearman correlation coefficient.

The overall, mean of hospital bed occupancy rate, average length of stay, bed turnover rate, bed turnover interval and mortality rate were 66.12%, 2.92 days, 87.82 times a year, 2.02 days and 10.12 per thousand, respectively. Spearman correlation coefficient showed a significant relationship between evaluation score of hospitals and bed occupancy rate indicators and mortality rates (p <0.001). But the relationship between the evaluation score of hospital and average length of stay, bed turnover rate and bed turnover interval was not significant.

The absence of significant relationship between current evaluation score of the studied hospitals shows that revision and correction of the current criteria for evaluation of hospitals is needed. It is recommended to focus on performance indicators that demonstrate use of resources and facilities in hospitals.