Assessment of some performance indicators of medical departments in tertiary hospitals

The present study assesses the performance of 37 medical departments from 12 tertiary hospitals in Ia?i town during year 2001 through the following indicators: average hospital stay, utilization rate and hospital bed turnover rate. The first indicator has been analyzed by comparing the values recorded in various medical departments with those recommended by the Ministry of Health for tertiary hospitals. The highest value was recorded in the nephrology department, with a ratio 2001 value/optimal value of 2.76. Long average hospital stay has been recorded in 14 of the 37 assessed departments (37.8%). During year 2001, the following utilization rates have been found: normal rates of 300-365 inpatient days per hospital bed in 14 departments, high rates (over 365 days) in 11 departments, and low rates (less than 300) in 12 departments. Bed turnover rate varied with department's specialty profile and length of hospital stay from 11 inpatients per hospital bed in the acute mental disorders department to 146 in C intensive care unit.