Estimating the efficiency of utilisation of hospitals in El-Gharbia Governorate

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out with the aim of determining the efficiency of utilization of hospitals in El Gharbia governorate and estimating the required number of hospital beds which will provide reasonable occupancy rates for each hospital. In addition it was intended to reveal whether a greater number of beds lead to higher utilization rates [Roemer's law]. Results revealed that according to the indices used only a couple of hospitals, along 3 separate years, could be said to operate efficiently. Utilization rates fluctuated between overutilization in some hospitals and underutilization in others due to maldistribution of hospital beds. Using the standard deviation formula based on the Poisson distribution curve, the required number of beds for each individual hospital in the governorate was calculated with its corresponding expected occupancy rate. In all hospitals but 2, this number was much less than the currently available number of beds. Finally, it was found that Roemer's law did not apply perfectly to hospitals of El Gharbia governorate [r[s]=0.07]. However, r[s] rose to 0.53 when Mahelet Marhoum hospital was excluded. This was the only hospital which persistently showed exceptionally low utilization rates, regardless of the measures used