Determinants of Hospital Performance: A Literature Review

Abstract

Hospital performance is a multidisciplinary and polysemous concept. The interest shown by scientific researchers in the subject of performance continues to grow from year to year. Moreover, a multitude of internal and external factors influence hospital performance. The aim of this study is therefore to identify and summarise, by means of a review of the scientific literature, the various determinants and factors that have an impact on hospital performance.

The study was carried out by means of a systematic literature review aimed at gathering, summarising and analysing relevant studies on the concept of hospital performance and its determinants. This review is based on scientific articles cited and selected from internationally recognised journals related to the science of medicine. Selected articles include those that have used ratio methods, data envelopment analysis, stochastic frontier models and econometric models such as Tobit regression, to assess the determinants of hospital efficiency. 

Hospital performance is influenced by a panoply of determinants and factors that can be subdivided into two broad categories: internal determinants, which are distinguished in particular by the following factors (status, size, specialisation or polyvalence hospital, university or non-university hospital, etc.), and external determinants, which are distinguished in particular by the following factors (status, size, specialisation or polyvalence hospital, university or non-university hospital, etc.).

The results show that no single factor is effective in remedying hospital inefficiencies in isolation from others. Thus, the determinants of hospital performance are diverse and interconnected, and cannot be treated separately. Hospital performance should be approached in a multi-disciplinary way, covering several dimensions and factors, in order to gain a comprehensive view and assess the level of influence on hospital efficiency and performance.

Key words: Hospital Performance, Efficiency, Determinants of hospital performance.

JEL Classification : H51

Paper type: Theoretical Research.