Performance of hospitals operating departments: The effect of logistic parameters

Our case study analyses the performance of 24 operating departments in Soroka Hospital in Beer-Sheva, Israel. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used with five inputs and three outputs over two years. These inputs and outputs reflected mostly logistic parameters and income of operating rooms. In the three operating sites investigated, we found no significant difference in efficiency. We found that simple room utilisation ratio is not sufficient for measuring efficiency. As a by-product of DEA, benchmark analysis verified inputs and outputs which need improvements in order to reach full efficiency, relative to their peers.