IHE is a leader in the field of Data Envelope Analysis (DEA), a non-parametric method to measure productivity. DEA is a methodology well-suited to evaluate complex environments (such as health care) where continuous technological development leads to shifts in productivity. By identifying production frontiers, DEA can be used to guide decision makers in identifying current best practice among groups of health care providers.
Examples of areas where IHE has applied this method include European cancer care, pharmacies, psoriasis and cataract surgery.