Performance Evaluation of Hospital Waste Management System based on Excellence Model (EFQM) in military and civilian Hospitals

Proper management of hospital waste is crucial due to its impact on health and the environment. Assessing the effectiveness of the management system using models can lead to improvements.

This study aims to evaluating the health-environmental and management performance of hospital wastes using the EFQM excellence model in three selected hospitals. (two military hospitals and one civilian hospital).

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a detailed questionnaire was developed to investigate waste management strategies by reviewing literature and conducting unstructured interviews with employees and managers of selected hospitals. The questionnaire was validated through expert reviews, and its reliability was measured using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. A performance evaluation model was designed based on the EFQM organizational excellence model, using nine criteria in the form of “enablers” and “results”. Cochran’s formula was utilized to determine the sample size, and the results were analyzed using SPSS23 software. ANCOVA was employed to compare the selected hospitals, and Bonferroni’s post hoc test was used for pairwise comparison.

Results showed that the criteria (leadership, policy and strategy) and (healthenvironmental risk assessment and management) in hospital (A) and the criteria (partnerships and resources) and (Key performance results) in hospital (B) as well as the criteria (risk assessment and management) and criteria (community results) in hospital (C) are considered as their most important waste management strength. The comparison of these hospitals using the statistical method of univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) reveals a significant difference in the average of the criterion (partnerships and resources) in hospitals (C) & (B), and the criteria (community results) in hospitals (A) & (B) are significant.

The senior hospital managers are confident that they have established an effective organizational structure and process management  system. They believe this system will lead to sustainable improvement. They also recognize the need for shortterm and long-term plans to address areas needing further improvement.