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Summary
Hospitals seek systems for qualitative benefits, not just cost savings. However, these "soft" advantages prove as difficult to achieve as financial gains, according to a recent study.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Hospitals increasingly invest in new systems.
- Procurement decisions often focus on both financial and non-financial benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the realization of qualitative benefits from hospital system purchases.
- To compare the attainability of "soft" benefits versus hard-dollar savings.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted for Modern Healthcare.
- Analysis involved Coopers & Lybrand and Zinn Enterprises.
Main Results:
- Hospitals prioritize "qualitative" benefits over purely financial ones.
- Achieving these "soft" benefits is challenging, similar to realizing cost savings.
Conclusions:
- The pursuit of qualitative benefits in hospital systems is complex.
- Both financial and non-financial gains require careful management and may be elusive.