Hospital role delineation: The technology and the politics

Abstract

Regulated health systems are under increasing pressure to improve the efficiency of their hospital provision. One approach is to have more coordinated hospital provision through hospital role delineation. This short communication proposes the use of Diagnosis Related Groups as part of the role delineation process. However, the role delineation process is not solely a technical one: it requires a blend of technical and political decisions. Political aspects of the role delineation process are also reviewed.