ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution, service volume, and medical efficiency of private general hospitals in Sichuan Province to provide references for optimizing the allocation of health resources in Sichuan Province. MethodsUsing the 2020 data from private general hospitals above the second level in 18 cities and states in Sichuan Province, this study calculated the market concentration and competitiveness with the Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI). A three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model was employed to eliminate environmental variables and random errors for hospital efficiency analysis. Influencing factors were conducted using a Tobit regression model. ResultsThe HHI indices for the number of licensed (assistant) physicians, beds, and total consultations in each city and state were below 1 000, indicating a low concentration market. The comprehensive technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency of private general hospitals above the second level in Sichuan Province were 0.534, 0.661, and 0.806, respectively, after the three-stage DEA analysis. The number of practicing (assistant) physicians was negatively correlated with scale efficiency. the number of beds was negatively correlated with pure technical efficiency. The total number of consultations showed a positive correlation with overall technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency. ConclusionThe provincial private hospital market exhibits low concentration competition. Differences in efficiency exist among various regions, grades, and hospital types. Market competition in resource allocation promotes the improvement of pure technological efficiency and scale efficiency. Market share competition hinders the improvement of comprehensive technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency.
Objective To construct an evaluation index system of the competitiveness of private hospitals, and to provide references for guiding, supervising, and managing the high-quality development of private hospitals. Methods An index pool was constructed by the literature analysis method. Index screening was completed using the modified Delphi method. The analytic hierarchy process, entropy weight method, and combination weight method were used to determine the index weight. Results The competitiveness evaluation index system of private hospitals was constructed, which included 5 primary indexes and 36 secondary indexes. The combination weight methods were resource allocation (0.366 8), service capacity (0.470 8), service efficiency (0.033 7), quality and safety (0.121 3), and financial management (0.007 3). Conclusion The constructed evaluation index system of competitiveness of private hospitals is scientific, targeted, and operable.