Your browser doesn't support javascript.
The effect of COVID-19 on public hospital revenues in Iran: An interrupted time-series analysis.
Behzadifar, Masoud; Aalipour, Afshin; Kehsvari, Mohammad; Darvishi Teli, Banafsheh; Ghanbari, Mahboubeh Khaton; Gorji, Hasan Abolghasem; Sheikhi, Alaeddin; Azari, Samad; Heydarian, Mohammad; Ehsanzadeh, Seyed Jafar; Kong, Jude Dzevela; Ahadi, Maryam; Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi.
  • Behzadifar M; Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
  • Aalipour A; Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
  • Kehsvari M; Vice Chancellor Treatment, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
  • Darvishi Teli B; Vice Chancellor Treatment, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
  • Ghanbari MK; Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Gorji HA; Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Sheikhi A; Vice Chancellor Treatment, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
  • Azari S; Hospital Management Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Heydarian M; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
  • Ehsanzadeh SJ; English Language Department, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Kong JD; Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, Canada.
  • Ahadi M; Faculty of Medicine, Department Emergency Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
  • Bragazzi NL; Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, Canada.
PLoS One ; 17(3): e0266343, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1833656
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The "Coronavirus Disease 2019" (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major challenge for all healthcare systems worldwide, and besides generating a high toll of deaths, it has caused economic losses. Hospitals have played a key role in providing services to patients and the volume of hospital activities has been refocused on COVID-19 patients. Other activities have been limited/repurposed or even suspended and hospitals have been operating with reduced capacity. With the decrease in non-COVID-19 activities, their financial system and sustainability have been threatened, with hospitals facing shortage of financial resources. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on the revenues of public hospitals in Lorestan province in western Iran, as a case study.

METHOD:

In this quasi-experimental study, we conducted the interrupted time series analysis to evaluate COVID-19 induced changes in monthly revenues of 18 public hospitals, from April 2018 to August 2021, in Lorestan, Iran. In doing so, public hospitals report their earnings to the University of Medical Sciences monthly; then, we collected this data through the finance office.

RESULTS:

Due to COVID-19, the revenues of public hospitals experienced an average monthly decrease of $172,636 thousand (P-value = 0.01232). For about 13 months, the trend of declining hospital revenues continued. However, after February 2021, a relatively stable increase could be observed, with patient admission and elective surgeries restrictions being lifted. The average monthly income of hospitals increased by $83,574 thousand.

CONCLUSION:

COVID-19 has reduced the revenues of public hospitals, which have faced many problems due to the high costs they have incurred. During the crisis, lack of adequate fundings can damage healthcare service delivery, and policymakers should allocate resources to prevent potential shocks.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0266343

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0266343