More Efficient Public Hospitals: A Brazilian Case Study Using the Lean-DEA Approach

This article applies a Lean-DEA approach structured in four steps to improve the efficiency of Brazilian public hospitals. For this case, the approach in question uses the SBM-DEA model with CRS and output orientation, adopting the number of clinical beds and number of nurses as inputs and number of hospital discharges as output. The methodology of the approach consists of: (1) mapping of lean profiles; (2) initial diagnosis of efficiency; (3) stipulation of targets via Lean-DEA Ideal Adjustment (50% limit); and (4) formulation of strategic guidelines. The validation in 30 DMUs (16 hospitals - 14 that applied Lean Healthcare (LH) and 2 that did not) attested to the flexibility of the tool. As a result, the study generated accurate evaluations and outlined customized action plans for inefficient units, guided by the best practices in the sector and, mainly, by the points of best practices pointed out by the DEA in the LH.