From general to specialty hospitals: operationalising focus in healthcare operations

Abstract

This study proposes an operationalisation of the term focus in healthcare operations. We develop a configuration model consisting of six interrelated dimensions that can be used to characterise hospital focus. The proposed dimensions of focus are Knowledge areas, Procedures, Medical conditions, Patient groups, Planning horizons and Levels of difficulty. The strength of these dimensions is shown through empirical examination, using a three-step methodology to analyse case study data from a unique transformation project where general hospitals were turned into new types of focused specialty hospitals. As our study takes a portfolio approach to the allocation of demand segments to different healthcare delivery units, it contributes to operations management knowledge with a model for segmenting healthcare demand from an operations perspective. This configuration model provides researchers and practitioners with a tool for understanding current configurations as well as for identifying potential new configurations of focus in healthcare.