Appropriateness of Delivered Services in Educational Hospitals: A Case Study in Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Abstract Background: Continuous assessment of hospital services is an important issue that is necessary for improvement of resource productivity and quality of services. This study aimed to investigate the appropriateness of delivered services in the educational hospitals of Kerman. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 patients in selected educational hospitals of Kerman to determine the appropriateness of hospital services. Appropriate Evaluation Protocol (AEP), which is the most common tool to assess the appropriate use of hospital services, was used for data collection. Then, the data were analyzed using chi-square test and ANOVA. Results: The results indicated that the rates of inappropriate admission and hospitalization in the study hospitals were 8% and 14%, respectively. Besides, the results revealed a significant relationship between inappropriate admission and sex (p=0.033), length of hospital stay (p=0.02), and insurance coverage (p=0.011). Conclusion: Home care education for reducing the length of hospital stay, setting up non-hospital health facilities for reducing referral to upper levels, using AEP in patients’ clinical records, in-service education of medical staff, correction of incomplete processes, and reforms in insurance and payment methods can be used in order to reduce inappropriate admissions and hospitalizations. Keywords: Appropriate evaluation protocol, Inappropriate admission and hospitalization, Hospital