Exploring ICT enabled networking in hospital organisations

The paper describes an exploratory study of new organisational forms in hospitals. The study focuses on ICT-enabled networking in hospital organisations. Two Dutch hospitals (one general and one categorical) and a German hospital (university) were analysed. Hospitals develop through different levels of networking and phases of organisational focus. Strategic drivers and incentives are improvement of efficiency and effectiveness of the primary care process. Enabling conditions are a clear hospital strategy and an open and flexible hospital information system that supports network transactions and processes. The design and functioning of the network is conditioned by: (a) the not-for-profit market, (b) the organisational focus, and (c) the involvement of internal and external stakeholders. The measurability of performance increases as the organisational focus evolves. More research is called for to understand the complexity and dynamics of hospital network organisations.