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A widening gap? Static and dynamic performance differences between specialist and general hospitals

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Listed:
  • Antonio Vera

    (German Police University)

  • Pythagoras Petratos

    (Oxford University)

  • Torsten Oliver Salge

    (RWTH Aachen University)

Abstract

This paper develops and tests a dynamic model of hospital focus. It does so by tracing the performance trajectories of specialist and general hospitals to identify whether a performance gap exists and whether it widens or shrinks over time. Our longitudinal analyses of all hospital organizations within the English National Health Service (NHS) reveal not only a notable performance gap between specialist and general hospitals in particular with regards to patient satisfaction that widens over time, but also the emergence of a gap especially with regards to hospital staff job satisfaction. These findings reflect the considerable potential of specialization as a means to enhance hospital effectiveness. However, they also alert health policy makers to the threat of a widening performance gap between specialist and general hospitals with potential negative repercussions at the patient and health system level.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Vera & Pythagoras Petratos & Torsten Oliver Salge, 2018. "A widening gap? Static and dynamic performance differences between specialist and general hospitals," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 25-36, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:hcarem:v:21:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s10729-016-9376-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10729-016-9376-0
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