Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a technique that is used to measure the multiple dimensions of performance (efficiency) of producing units. DEA allows the use of multiple inputs and outputs to develop a single efficiency score to measure comparative efficiency (performance) of hospitals, physicians, group practices. The procedure of comparing the units’ efficiency can be formulated as a linear optimization problem.  Analyzing the efficiency of units is then a set of linear optimization problems. DEA is being used to compare a group of service units to identify relatively inefficient ones, measure the magnitude of the inefficiencies and, by comparing the inefficient with the efficient ones, suggest ways to reduce those inefficiencies. 

Why Should You Attend:

While one could find a rich literature on various aspects data envelopment analysis (DEA), it is typically presented as an academic mathematical development in the area of linear optimization which is difficult to use by a layman.

One should attend this webinar because it is focused on examples from the real hospital practice, not using the complicated formulas and mathematics of linear optimization theory. All presented examples are aided by the provided Excel spreadsheet with solver Add-in by the instructor with real hospital experience. His experience was presented in his widely cited book with more than 10,000 sales worldwide: Kolker, A., “Healthcare Management Engineering: What does this fancy word really mean?” SpringerBriefs, NY, 2012. This book was used as a main text for the training course by the National Health System, the UK, as well as by the Lubar School of business at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for the graduate course on Healthcare delivery system and data analytics.

Course Outline:

• Data Envelopment Analysis:  What is it? What is it for?

• A concept of the efficiency frontier and a scoring function

• DEA as a linear optimization problem

•  Examples of DEA using Excel Add-in Solver with explanation

•   of the spreadsheet set up

• 6 hospitals: 2 Inputs and 2 Outputs

• 12 medical labs: 2 Inputs and 3 Outputs

• A network of 8 hospitals: 5 Inputs and 3 Outputs

        (based on the actual project within Froedtert Health Hospital System)

• Strength and limitations of DEA

• DEA software

What You Get:

• Training Materials

• Live Q&A Session with our Expert

• Participation Certificate

• Access to Signup Community (Optional)

• Reward Points

Who Will Benefit:

Nursing Managers, Chief Nursing Officers, Directors and VP of quality and operations improvements of healthcare organizations interested in learning practical methods of data analytics for optimal nursing staffing, required number of exam rooms and pieces of equipment.

Background:

One of the special aspects of many health care units is that the use of profit as the main metric of success is inappropriate. This raises essential questions about how the performance of such entities can be assessed. The core idea is that a set of inputs and outputs can be identified that are common across a set of units that we wish to compare and/or manage. The values of the inputs and outputs are used to create a scoring function for each unit relative to other similar units. Linear programming is then employed to find out the values of the parameters that maximize or minimize the scoring function. One of the useful byproducts of this approach is that it also provides improvement targets for the lower performing units.