International Journal of Business and Social Science

ISSN 2219-1933 (Print), 2219-6021 (Online) DOI: 10.30845/ijbss

Value Creation of Healthcare Services- Developing a Healthcare Matching Model
Lars Nordgren, Agneta Planander, Catharina Wingner Leifland

Abstract
Healthcare in Sweden is dealing with problems regarding accessibility for patients. Moreover, there is a lack of an overall model concerning matching specialist care to patients. Against this background, the purpose was to develop a preliminary healthcare matching model and discuss the barriers of this model. Theoretically, the study draws on the concepts of matching and coordination completed with value co-creation. Inspired by action research there was collaboration between the researchers and practitioners in the Skåne Region in Sweden between 2013 and 2016 (case one). Studies of policy documents, several meetings with strategists and analysis of a coordination meeting served as a basis for gathering empirical data concerning the process of coordinating patients and capacity. A completing study concerned analysis of the coordination of care guarantee service to the patients in the Halland Region (case two). Based on a theoretical analysis and analysis of two cases (in two regions) in Sweden it seems that an advanced matching, based on co-creation between patients, referrers and providers, is required in order to balance specialist care capacity to the needs of the patients smoothly. Both patients and providers could benefit from the use of matching healthcare. However, there are several barriers against healthcare matching: the Swedish legislation that includes minor incentives to cooperate between regions, the different cultures in the regions, and the strong professional identity in healthcare.In order to succeed in the notion of healthcare matching, there have to be active cooperation by the stakeholders involved. This article is original in the development of a preliminary model of healthcare matching concerning specialist care.

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