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Identifying the scope for savings at inpatient episode level: An illustration applying DEA to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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  • Thanassoulis, Emmanuel
  • Silva Portela, Maria
  • Graveney, Mike

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by a largely irreversible obstruction of the airways, and is one of the leading causes of chronic morbidity and mortality worldwide. This paper illustrates the use of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess the potential for cost savings at COPD inpatient episode level. The analysis uses the length of stay of each episode as a surrogate for expenditure on that episode while allowing for the medical condition of the patient and the quality of care received. We find substantial possible reductions in length of stay which would translate to cost savings. The paper also explores differences both between hospitals and between care teams within hospitals so that cost efficient protocols of treatment can be identified and disseminated.

Suggested Citation

  • Thanassoulis, Emmanuel & Silva Portela, Maria & Graveney, Mike, 2016. "Identifying the scope for savings at inpatient episode level: An illustration applying DEA to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 255(2), pages 570-582.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:255:y:2016:i:2:p:570-582
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2016.05.028
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mustafa Jahangoshai Rezaee & Abuzar Karimdadi & Hamidreza Izadbakhsh, 2019. "Road map for progress and attractiveness of Iranian hospitals by integrating self-organizing map and context-dependent DEA," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 410-436, September.
    3. Margit Sommersguter-Reichmann, 2022. "Health care quality in nonparametric efficiency studies: a review," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 30(1), pages 67-131, March.
    4. Apostolos Christopoulos & Ioannis Dokas & Sofia Katsimardou & Eleftherios Spyromitros, 2022. "The Malmquist Productivity measure for UK-listed firms in the aftermath of the global financial crisis," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 1617-1634, April.

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