Objective: Data exchange and interoperability are necessary to support modern healthcare. The purpose of this study was to use a data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach in order to evaluate the degree of efficiency and interoperability of Information Technology within Greek Regional Health Authorities. Methods: Publicly available data were collected from the Greek Information Society organisation regarding specific IT attributes of relevant Greek healthcare organisations for the period 2000 until 2006 and a DEA approach was applied against them. Inputs were network and software infrastructure and outputs were interoperability, data exchange mechanisms and ability to support open standards. Results: Results obtained for 15 of the 17 healthcare regions clearly demonstrated limited utilisation of the physical and software infrastructure for achieving interoperability. Conclusion: Based on the fact that the input data reflect a specific period of time, there is a need to increase the level of interoperability amongst existing healthcare information systems within the healthcare regions in Greece. Key factors in achieving this will be standardisation, and the adoption and introduction of new, open technologies. © The Journal on Information Technology in Healthcare 2008.

Controlling healthcare costs is a multifaceted problem for governments all over the world, as they have the difficult task of ensuring that patients receive high quality care, and that this is delivered as efficiently as possible. Through the use of quantitative analysis, an attempt is made to determine the areas of activity of 32 Greek Public Obstetrical and Gynaecological Units which present problems with regard to their performance. Based on the results that emerge from the application of Data Envelopment Analysis in the 32 hospital units of the sample, information is provided to their managers, which refer to: (i) the degree of utilization of their production factors, (ii) the particular weight of each factor of production in the formation of the relative efficiency score, (iii) the utilization level of each factor of production, and (iv) those hospital units that utilize their factors of production in an optimal way and constitute models for the exercising of effective management. The derived information assists in the formulation of an appropriate policy mix per hospital unit which should be applied by their management teams along with a set of administrative measures that need to be undertaken in order to promote efficiency. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.