title: An analysis of the factors influencing networkability in the health-care sector.
abstract: In most industries of economy, the production structures evolved into activities characterized by a high division of labour between the business partners combined with specialization, the standardization of service components and extensive networking. In the health-care sector, the first signs of a similar development are beginning to crystallize. As a consequence, networkability, the ability to link up with other players on the basis of commonly agreed standards for the joint provisioning of patient-centred and cost-efficient health services will emerge to a key concept for future health service delivery. As not only technical but mainly organizational and behavioural issues are actually determining networkability of health-care organizations, a holistic model for analysis is needed. In this paper, the main variables leading to an increase in this networkability are identified and compiled into a comprehensible procedure model for health-care practitioners.
authors.affiliation: Competence Center Health Network Engineering, Institute of Information Management, University of St Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mettler
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rohner
mesh_terms: D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires