Explaining the efficiency of anaesthesiology and intensive care wards in the Slovak Republic

Abstract

In this article, the authors measure and evaluate the efficiency of anesthesiology and intensive care wards in the Slovak Republic using the suitable methods and check suitability of methods and variables used in the Slovak healthcare environment. Nowadays, trends are towards modification of basic data envelopment analysis (DEA) incorporating other quantitative methods. In this study, the authors examined the influence of contextual variables on CCR DEA efficiency scores. Variables Ageing index and Unemployment rate had unexpected sign/effect on efficiency. Variables Average length of stay and Bed occupancy rate seem to be adequate to be used and checked for significance in terms of selected wards of the Slovak Republic healthcare. Such types of articles are completely missing in the Slovak Republic. Methods and variables the authors have used could be modificated to needs of individual wards. These findings could be used to build information system of efficiency in the Slovak healthcare within cooperation with National Health Information Center.