title: Classifying health networks and systems: managerial and policy implications.
abstract: This article illustrates how a new approach to classifying health networks and systems can be used to evaluate the readiness of health care organizations to accept risk. Examples are provided from the Harris-Methodist, Henry Ford, and SSM Health Care Systems. The classification system can also be used to assist executives and physician leaders in making decisions involving the centralization of services, the number of different services to offer, and decisions to enter into various strategic alliances. The classification system can be updated to help track the evolution of the U.S. health care system over time.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shortell
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Bazzoli
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Dubbs
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kralovec
mesh_terms: D000573:American Hospital Association; D002497:Centralized Hospital Services; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000145:classification* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006123:Group Practice; D018578:Hospital-Physician Relations; D009096:Multi-Institutional Systems / Q000145:classification* / Q000458:organization & administration; D009935:Organizational Affiliation; D010067:Ownership; D020414:Risk Sharing, Financial; D018511:Systems Integration; D014481:United States