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What is the difference between specialisation and diversity in hospitals? Investigating their relationship with efficiency

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  • Giuliani, Ginevra
  • Gitto, Simone

Abstract

The relationship between hospital specialisation and efficiency is crucial for managing hospital services. We discuss hospital specialisation as a specific instance of the more general concept of diversity and the conceptual opposite of variety. Unlike prior studies that focus on specialisation measures without a theoretical background, we employ the Blau Index, based on the concept of variety, enabling us to assess diversification's impact on efficiency.

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  • Giuliani, Ginevra & Gitto, Simone, 2025. "What is the difference between specialisation and diversity in hospitals? Investigating their relationship with efficiency," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceps:v:100:y:2025:i:c:s0038012125001004
    DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2025.102251
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