title: [Structure and limitations of German hospitals with regard to the future--the example of the Vivantes Group].
abstract: The German health care system is marked by increasing tension between rising needs, financiability and reformability. Structural deficits and a high performance potential are typical of the German hospital system. In these terms, Berlin occupies a leading position in the intra-national comparison. The introduction of a new payment system for hospitals that is based on case fees (DRGs) will lead to a radical reorganisation of hospitals in both quantity and structure. The health care provider Vivantes brings a clear answer to this challenge: even today this group offers a graduated and complex network integrating outpatient, inpatient, nursing and rehabilitative care units--whilst steadily reducing the capacities required. The integration of external enterprises is capable of improving the network both qualitatively and economically and offering a win-win situation. Integrative purchase-of-service contracts should be formulated to give a noticeable advantage to providers, sickness funds and insured persons.
authors.affiliation: Vivantes-Netzwerk für Gesundheit, GmbH, Berlin. w.schaefer@vivantes.de
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schäfer
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000639:trends; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005858:Germany; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000639:trends; D006740:Hospital Administrators / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans