Future strategic topics in the business model of hospitals in Austria

ABSTRACT

Background: For hospital management in the Austrian healthcare system the challenge of strategic control strongly results due to a growing shortage of resources. This raises the question: What indicators do the current and future prioritized strategic topics in hospital management provide for future priorities in the business model of Austrian hospitals?

Method: The methodology included a literature review, an online survey and two expert workshops. The results of the various surveys were discussed with 28 health professionals from the Austrian healthcare system.

Results: It becomes clear that the priorities for the current and future strategic topics lie in the personnel, legal regulation and the configuration of the service spectrum. This shows clearly that hospital management in Austria is characterized by pronounced quality orientation. Furthermore, it shows that the topics related to economic efficiency are currently of secondary importance.

Conclusions: It becomes clear that the decision makers in Austrian hospitals have the different dimensions of the business model grid in mind, while promoting the development of key performance measurement for the strategic orientation and implementation of inpatient care provision.

KEYWORDS:

• Stationary health care provision
• strategic topics
• hospital
• business model
• Austria

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Johannes Kriegel is a professor of health care management at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. He has published on strategic management, service development and logistics in health care. He is now working on some empirical aspects of primary health care organization, patient journey management, and pharmaceutical supply management.

Anton Riedl is a professor of strategic management at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. He has published on strategic management and change management in the non-profit sector.

Linda Tuttle-Weidinger is a professor at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. She has published on patient management and ambient assisted living in the field of non-profit and health care management.

Anna-Maria Stöbich is a scientific assistant at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. She has published on primary health care and rehabilitation management.