Objectives

To investigate whether business performance management practices are used by Brazilian federal university hospitals, and if so, to determine which practices are used and explore characteristics that may be related to their adoption.

Method

Descriptive ex post facto research on the effects of the studied variables in relation to the technical procedures. Secondary data and survey resources were used.

Results

Four hospitals use practices to assess business performance. Three of them stated that they use two different types of practices and that 75 % of university hospitals with at least one business performance management practice also have a strategic plan that includes vision, mission, objectives and long-term operational plans. Among the hospitals that do not use business performance management practices, 55.6 % claim to have strategic planning composed at least of mission, vision and long-term objectives. However, they stated that the entity has no plans to adopt any method.

Conclusions

This diagnosis intends to draw the attention of managers and other actors in the field of public health on the possibilities offered by performance evaluation systems to promote administrative improvements in a complex internal scenario with a need for rationalization of hospital costs in order to direct these institutions towards achieving their social mission.