Dutch hospitals score an average of 7.2 for financial health according to the "BDO Benchmark Hospitals 2023". But these fine figures give a distorted picture as returns are low and increasingly under pressure from rising costs that are not compensated in higher rates. On top of this, research by KPMG shows that hospital productivity has barely increased since 2011. This is a major problem at a time of rising demand for care, rising waiting lists and staff shortages.

To keep healthcare accessible in the future, hospitals must be able to invest in redesigning healthcare processes and digitisation. But that space is not there. This requires different budgeting and forecasting models and steering methods. It is essential to have a good picture of the demand for care and its effects on the required capacity, its planning and its management. By optimally aligning demand for care and capacity and using data strategically, hospitals can work more efficiently, increase productivity and improve efficiency.

Important questions arise, such as: How do hospitals integrate strategic challenges into their planning and control cycle? How do they collaborate and allocate responsibilities in the right place? How do hospitals monitor and steer towards set goals? And what role does data play in decision-making?

To provide insight into this, Performation conducted this benchmark study with the main question: How can hospitals optimise the balance between financial sustainability and quality of patient care through optimal use of capacity?

Sources:

[1] BDO Benchmark 202

[2] KPMG Stagnating productivity is hospital sector's hidden crisis