Hospital mergers and acquisitions: the impact of market consolidation on quality (BA/MA)
Background:
The healthcare industry has experienced a significant rise in hospital mergers and acquisitions in recent years, primarily driven by the need for cost efficiency and competitive pressure. Theoretically, the consolidation of the hospital market could lead to improvements in the quality of care through scaling effects or the knowledge transfer of the merged hospitals. However, it is important to consider whether consolidation may weaken competition between hospitals, potentially leading to a decrease in provider quality. The impact of market consolidation in the hospital sector on patient care outcomes, safety, and overall service quality has become a crucial area of concern. Therefore, questions arise regarding the potential effects of mergers and acquisitions on the quality of healthcare services provided.
Objective:
The objective of this thesis is to conduct a literature review to investigate the effect of mergers and acquisitions on hospital quality.
Literature:
Beaulieu ND, Dafny LS, Landon BE, Dalton JB, Kuye I, McWilliams JM. Changes in Quality of Care after Hospital Mergers and Acquisitions. N Engl J Med. 2020 Jan 2;382(1):51-59. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsa1901383
Jiang HJ, Fingar KR, Liang L, Henke RM, Gibson TP. Quality of Care Before and After Mergers and Acquisitions of Rural Hospitals. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Sep 1;4(9):e2124662. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.24662
Note: Writing in English or German Language.