Wan T T, Ma A, Lin B Y
Department of Health Administration, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
Int J Integr Care. 2001;1:e39. doi: 10.5334/ijic.31.
This study examines the integration effects on efficiency and financial viability of the top 100 integrated healthcare networks (IHNs) in the United States.
A contingency-strategic theory is used to identify the relationship of IHNs' performance to their structural and operational characteristics and integration strategies.
The lists of the top 100 IHNs ranked in two years, 1998 and 1999, by the SMG Marketing Group were merged to create a database for the study. Multiple indicators were used to examine the relationship between IHNs' characteristics and their performance in efficiency and financial viability. A path analytical model was developed and validated by the Mplus statistical program. Factors influencing the top 100 IHNs' images, represented by attaining ranking among the top 100 in two consecutive years, were analysed.
No positive associations were found between integration and network performance in efficiency or profits. Longitudinal data are needed to investigate the effect of integration on healthcare networks' financial performance.
本研究考察了美国排名前100的综合医疗网络（IHN）在效率和财务可行性方面的整合效果。
运用权变战略理论来确定IHN的绩效与其结构、运营特征及整合策略之间的关系。
将SMG营销集团在1998年和1999年这两年中排名前100的IHN名单合并，以创建本研究的数据库。使用多个指标来考察IHN的特征与其在效率和财务可行性方面的绩效之间的关系。开发了一个路径分析模型，并通过Mplus统计程序进行了验证。分析了以连续两年跻身前100名来代表的影响前100名IHN形象的因素。
未发现整合与网络在效率或利润方面的绩效之间存在正相关关系。需要纵向数据来研究整合对医疗网络财务绩效的影响。
