title: [Analysing strengths and weaknesses: opportunities and threats for service providers in the German health care system].
abstract: Hospitals in the German health care system are confronted with increasing economic competition due to paradigm shifts in funding inpatient treatment. Major hospitals, such as university hospitals, will be under significantly greater pressure to keep up the ability to compete by uniform per case payment. The new hospital funding system based on a Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) system and the economic competition involved require analyses of organisational and locational factors. Cooperativeness and efficient utilisation of resources, properties and staff will be determining factors to secure existence. Adequate responses and strategies are essential to cope with the growing operating requirements. Carrying out an analysis identifying one's own strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats will help to focus activities and sustainable strategies into areas where the strengths and the greatest opportunities lie. An example of the process of strategic planning and positioning is shown for a university department of dermatology.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hautkrankheiten, Universitätsklinikum Münster. hensenp@mednet.uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hensen
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wollert
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schawrz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luger
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roeder
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004465:Economic Competition / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany; D006275:Health Facility Planning / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*