Towards a framework for business model innovation in health care delivery in developing countries

BMC Medicine

Ramon Castano¹ 

[1] Organización para la Excelencia de la Salud, Bogota, Colombia

关键词: Patient-centeredness;    Separability;    Standardization;    Quality care;    Business model innovation;   

Others  :  1118123
DOI  :  10.1186/s12916-014-0233-z

 received in 2014-08-04, accepted in 2014-11-10,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Uncertainty and information asymmetries in health care are the basis for a supply-sided mindset in the health care industry and for a business model for hospitals and doctor’s practices; these two models have to be challenged with business model innovation. The three elements which ensure this are standardizability, separability, and patient-centeredness. As scientific evidence advances and outcomes are more predictable, standardization is more feasible. If a standardized process can also be separated from the hospital and doctor’s practice, it is more likely that innovative business models emerge. Regarding patient centeredness, it has to go beyond the oversimplifying approach to patient satisfaction with amenities and interpersonal skills of staff, to include the design of structure and processes starting from patients’ needs, expectations, and preferences. Six business models are proposed in this article, including those of hospitals and doctor’s practices.

Discussion

Unravelling standardized and separable processes from the traditional hospital setting will increase hospital expenditure, however, the new business models would reduce expenses. The net effect on efficiency could be argued to be positive. Regarding equity in access to high-quality care, most of the innovations described along these business models have emerged in developing countries; it is therefore reasonable to be optimistic regarding their impact on access by the poor. These models provide a promising route to achieve sustainable universal access to high quality care by the poor.

Summary

Business model innovation is a necessary step to guarantee sustainability of health care systems; standardizability, separability, and patient-centeredness are key elements underlying the six business model innovations proposed in this article.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Castano; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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