Determinants of the Relationship of Medical Service Entities in the Virtual Environment

Abstract

Introducing new technologies to the healthcare market provides unique opportunities for implementing a powerful framework of resources, tools, and applications that can revolutionize the ways in which medical units interact with their patients, as well as help deliver and manage medical services. The Internet of Services, as a new concept of Internet evaluation, depends not only on technological solutions but also on service innovations in the field of new value propositions where a patient-centered model is needed. Such a model would consider patient preferences, values, and the need for information as the leading characteristics of care. Patient and medical unit engagement is an essential prerequisite for the new value proposition development process. In this paper, we focus on the identification and analysis of the determinants responsible for the mutual engagement of patients and medical units. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe a relational model for the virtual healthcare service market. This study adopted a quantitative survey approach. The questionnaire was based on a three-factor model of consumer behavior, considering motivation, capacity, and opportunities. The relationships between patients and healthcare organizations will develop on the condition that the patients are properly motivated and have adequate abilities to become engaged in the relationships with health care providers.

Business Models for the Internet of Services: State of the Art and Research Agenda

“…Such a model would consider patient preferences, values, and the need for information as the leading characteristics of care. Patient and medical unit engagement is an essential prerequisite for the new value proposition development process" [72]. Similar research topics could be studied in other services, such as education.…”

“…[36,41] Exploring the IoS' application fields Which would be an IoS-based business model archetype in traditional service sectors like healthcare and education? [32,72] How to expand the business model in manufacturing sector for an IoS ecosystem perspective, shaping the firm-centric models as servitization and digitalization? [29,35,67,73,74] What is being applied for innovations toward IoS-based business model in agri-business sector?…”