Inter-organizational collaboration between healthcare providers

Abstract

Across OECD countries, healthcare organizations increasingly rely on inter-organizational collaboration (IOC). Yet, systematic insight into the relations across different healthcare sectors is lacking. The aim of this explorative study is twofold. First, to understand how IOC differs across healthcare sectors with regards to characteristics, motives and the role of health policy. Second, to understand which potential effects healthcare executives consider prior to the establishment of the collaborations. For this purpose, a survey was conducted among a representative panel of Dutch healthcare executives from medium-sized or large healthcare organizations. Almost half (n = 344, 48%) of the invited executives participated. Our results suggest that differences in policy changes and institutional developments across healthcare sectors affect the scope and type of IOC: hospitals generally operate in small horizontal collaborations, while larger and more complex mixed and non-horizontal collaborations are more present among nursing homes, disability care and mental care organizations. We find that before establishing IOCs, most healthcare executives conduct a self-assessment including the potential effects of the collaboration. The extensive overview of policy developments, collaboration types and intended outcomes presented in our study offers a useful starting point for a more in-depth assessment of the effectiveness of collaborations among healthcare organizations.

An integrative perspective on interorganizational multilevel healthcare networks: a systematic literature review

“…Based on our dataset, we conclude that the density of a network depends on the type of network. Specifically, hospital networks are not especially complex [ 52 ] even though care provision is complex and hospital networks are horizontal and often small. Meanwhile, community care, elderly care and mental care networks are very complex systems encompassing great variety in terms of the partners involved and the services provided.…”

Barriers to Inter-Organi_{sational Collaboration} in the Preoperative Management of Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Hip or Knee

“…The survey results show that collaboration among professionals from different health organisations is very rare. Comparison with the results of other studies that have implemented integrated clinical pathways in preoperative management of patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis shows that inter-organisational collaboration is well organised and effective in many countries [ 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ], it can improve health related quality of life [ 14 ], however, the study in the Netherlands shows that implementation of the pathway had a positive effect on GPs’ diagnostic behaviour only in relation to the knee but not the hip [ 16 ]. The statements about inter-organisational collaboration and communication were rated higher by nurses than by physicians and others, they much more often relied on documentation and consulted other competent people, probably due to the fact that nurses are generally most involved in coordination of patient’s treatment.…”

“…No participant identifiers were collected, the responses were only used to compile statistics. To develop the instrument, we adapted the measures for all study variables from previously published studies [ 21 22 23 ]. To further refine the measurement items from the study construct, we conducted interviews with 5 academics and 5 healthcare workers with the experience in inter-organisational collaboration.…”

COVID-19 management at one of the largest hospitals in Germany: Concept, evaluation and adaptation

“…While there is a large body of theoretical and empirical evidence on inter-organizational collaboration in a hospital context, thus supporting the planning and execution of efforts, more research is needed on hospital intra-organizational partnerships and networks. 30 Our analysis serves as an exploratory case study of intra-organizational collaboration, yet further systematically obtained evidence is required.…”