Increasing Hospital Performance and Cost Management: A Systematic Approach Review and Meta-Analysis Study

Introduction: Enhancing hospital efficiency while managing costs demands collaborative efforts and strategic interventions. This research evaluates existing evidence to identify effective strategies for improving operational performance without compromising patient care quality. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies published between 2015 and 2024 were extracted from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, yielding 400 records. After screening, 30 high-quality studies were included. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 29.0) to calculate pooled odds ratios (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 1.22–1.27, p < 0.0001). Results: The study found a number of ways to lower costs, including telemedicine (25%), Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles (35%), lean management (20%), digital workflows (22%), EHR systems (28%), and automation tools (25%). Subgroup analysis showed smaller hospitals benefited most from telemedicine, while larger hospitals gained from digital solutions. Heterogeneity was moderate (I² = 43.45%), with variations based on hospital size and geographic location. Conclusion: This research underscores the transformative potential of evidence-based interventions in optimizing hospital efficiency. By integrating strategies like telemedicine and process improvement cycles, hospitals can achieve sustainable cost management and better patient outcomes. Policymakers should prioritize ongoing evaluations to adapt strategies to evolving healthcare demands.