title: The era of centers: the influence of establishing specialized centers on patients' choice of hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is considered that establishing accredited specialized centers can serve as a marketing tool. This study investigated whether accredited specialized centers influence patients' choice of hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2,389 patients was included in a questionnaire survey: 468 at the Department of Gynecology, 745 at the certified University Breast Center of Franconia, 1,000 at the University Perinatal Center of Franconia and 176 for whom classification details were lacking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the oncological patients, physicians in private practice played an important role in the choice of hospital (58.4 vs. 25.7%; P < 0.001; OR 4.058). Among obstetric patients, the primary factors were recommendations from family [odds ratio (OR) 0.495], friends (OR 0.218), and previous personal experience of the hospital (OR 0.695). For oncological patients, treatment quality (OR 2.693), availability of a center (OR 1.785), and certification (OR 3.939) were comparatively more important. For obstetric patients, friendliness (OR 0.409) and attractive accommodation (OR 0.153) were more important.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians are the most important source of recommendations for oncological patients. From the marketing point of view, intensive involvement of local private-practice physicians is necessary. The availability of certified perinatal centers does not currently play any part in patients' choice of hospital.
authors.affiliation: University Breast Center of Franconia (UBF), Department of Gynecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Universitätstrasse 21-23, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. Michael.lux@uk-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Michael Patrick
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lux
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fasching
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schrauder
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Löhberg
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Grün
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Beckmann
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Goecke
mesh_terms: D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires