Article Abstract

	Title:	Establishing 'integrated healthcare' in Austria
	Author:	Victoria Hoess, Magdalena Thoeni, Roland Staudinger, Bettina Staudinger
	Address:	UMIT – University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Institute for Applied Systems Research and Development, Eduard Wallnofer Zentrum 1, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria. ' UMIT – University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Institute for Applied Systems Research and Development, Eduard Wallnofer Zentrum 1, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria. ' UMIT – University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Institute for Applied Systems Research and Development, Eduard Wallnofer Zentrum 1, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria. ' UMIT – University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Institute for Applied Systems Research and Development, Eduard Wallnofer Zentrum 1, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
	Journal:	International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations 2008 - Vol. 5, No.2  pp. 224 - 239
	Abstract:	Integrated healthcare in Austria is one of the approaches policy-makers choose in facing upcoming challenges that are expected to increase health spending. The paper outlines why networking will be a major issue within integrated healthcare structures. Thereby, one focus is laid on deriving which determinants characterise Austrian healthcare providers and how these will influence their behaviour towards cooperation. After singling out a provider's incentive to cooperate, possible cooperations between the healthcare providers are discussed, as well as the implications. This approach can be used for any health system where the state has structured the health system mainly by regulations.
	Keywords:	healthcare networks; healthcare providers; integrated healthcare; healthcare provider characteristics; cooperation; Austria; integration; networking; government regulation.
	DOI:	10.1504/IJNVO.2008.017012
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