title: Evaluation of the utilization management programme at Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain.
abstract: In 1993, the Ministry of Health in Bahrain implemented a utilization management programme at the largest public hospital in the country, aimed at reducing patients' mean length of stay from 8.3 days in 1993 to 6.0 days in 2000. Time series analysis, using linear trend modelling and the annual disparity reduction rate, were used to estimate performance towards achieving the targets. The study found that the length of stay declined consistently between 1984 and 2000, with a steeper decline in the period 1994-2000, which could be attributed to the utilization management programme. Overall, length of stay was reduced by 20.5% between the two periods, short of the target 27.8% proposed in 1993. Individual clinical departments showed mixed results, with better performance demonstrated by the Departments of Medicine and Surgery.
authors.affiliation: Office of Medical Review, Ministry of Health, Bahrain.
authors.forename: B E A H
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Fateha
mesh_terms: D001445:Bahrain; D015982:Bias; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005544:Forecasting; D006302:Health Services Research; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends*; D016014:Linear Models; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000458:organization & administration*