Real Options Theory and Classification of Patients by Diagnosis Related Groups: How These Different Fields Could Relate?

Abstract

In a complex environment, the managers of hospital organizations should take hard decisions all the time. Therefore, tools and techniques, which seek to understand the past and project the future, are very important. In some situations, the complexity encountered requires the transfer of knowledge from other areas, to find solutions and develop tools that provide efficient management of resources. In this scenario, this article has the main objective to present a theoretical discussion that brings the relationship between the Theory of Real Options and the Diagnosis Related Groups, to identify possible points that underlie the use of real options in Diagnosis Related Groups. The results demonstrate that, with the patient's condition as the focus, both are applied in the hospital environment with the objective of supporting decision-making, but not together. In addition, the differences observed make the combination of some of its concepts relevant for decision-making.