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Is there a Trade-Off between Quality and Productivity? The Case of Diagnostic Technologies in Portugal

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, we compute quality-adjusted measures of productivity change for the three most important diagnostic technologies (i.e., the Computerised Tomography Scan, Electrocardiogram and Echocardiogram) in the major Portuguese hospitals. We use the Malmquist–Luenberger index, which allows to measure productivity growth while controlling for the quality of the production. Second, using non-parametric tests, we analyse whether the implementation of the Prospective Payment System may have had a positive impact on the movements of productivity over time. The results show that the PPS has helped hospitals to use these tools more efficiently and to improve their effectiveness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, Universidade do Minho, Gualtar, Braga, Portugal

    Clara E. Dismuke

  2. LUBS, University of Leeds, Western Campus, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Vania Sena

Authors
  1. Clara E. Dismuke
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  2. Vania Sena
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Dismuke, C.E., Sena, V. Is there a Trade-Off between Quality and Productivity? The Case of Diagnostic Technologies in Portugal. Annals of Operations Research 107, 101–116 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014946914816

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