Hospital waiting time in Norway: What is the role of organizational change?
Linda Midttun SINTEF Health Research, Trondheim, Norway, linda.midttun{at}sintef.no’ + u + ‘@’ + d + ”//–>, Institute of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo Pål E. Martinussen SINTEF Health Research, Trondheim, Norway, Institute of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo Background: During the last five years the Norwegian hospital sector has experienced massive reorganization efforts. The aim of this study is to establish whether two such initiatives — the introduction of ring fencing of elective surgery and activity-based budgets at department level — have had any effects on one of the most profiled objectives on the health political agenda: reduction in waiting time. Methods: The sample studied includes 41 hospitals observed at two points of time, 1999 and 2001. Waiting time is expected to be a result of imbalance between demand and supply. Measures representing the supply side (ring fencing, activity-based budgets at departmental level, p
