International Journal of Health Sciences

The Impact of Religious Hospitals as Safety Net Providers
Jeffrey P. Harrison, Ph.D. MBA, MHA, FACHE; Liubov O. Harrison, MS in Data Analytics

Abstract
Aim: This study evaluates the performance of religious hospitals using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Religious hospitals are often part of church owned health systems and function as the safety net provider in many communities. The data show that in 2019 there were 488 religious’ hospitals with an average of 195 beds. Results indicate overall efficiency for religious hospitals was 68%. Of these hospitals, 55 (11%) had an efficiency score of 1.0, maximum efficiency, and are judged to be on efficiency frontier. Based on the number of religious hospitals with an average size of 195 beds, these hospitals will have challenges related to efficiency. In addition, their mission to provide care to all results in a significant amount of charity care and a safety net hospital for the community. Conclusion: Low efficiency religious hospitals are at risk of closure or being acquired by for-profit health systems. This loss of charity care at a safety net provider could have a negative impact on the uninsured in local communities.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijhs.v10n1a4