Does Transfer of Hospital Governance to Board of Trustees per se Lead to Improved Hospital Performance?

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Evidence shows that transfer of hospital governance to board of trustees can positively influence hospital performance. Iran has initiated implementing such a transformation and a number of hospitals have been involved in this reform. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of such a reform by examining performance profile of a sample hospital across the intervention time segment.

Methods: Data was collected in 2011 from a university hospital affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Bed Occupation Ratio, Average Patient Stay, and Real Hospital Income were selected as the target performance measures. Data was collected on a seasonal basis by reviewing hospital performance reports within the period of 3.5 years prior and 3.5 years after the intervention. The data were analyzed using the interrupted time series analysis. P < 0.05 was considered as statistical significance.

Findings: Transfer of hospital governance to the board of trustees per se does not lead to improved hospital performance.

Conclusions: Realizing the advantages of board-of-trustee-based hospital governance would be contingent on identifying and fulfilling prerequisite conditions. To this aim, further research at both government and organizational levels is required.