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Examining the relationship between hospital ownership and population health efforts

Meghan Hufstader Gabriel (Department of Health Management and Informatics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA)
Danielle Atkins (Department of Health Management and Informatics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA)
Xinliang Liu (Department of Health Management and Informatics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA)
Rebecca Tregerman (Department of Health Management and Informatics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA)

Journal of Health Organization and Management

ISSN: 1477-7266

Article publication date: 1 October 2018

Issue publication date: 23 November 2018

407

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between ownership type and population health initiatives adopted by hospitals using the 2015 American Hospital Association data.

Design/methodology/approach

Hospitals of various sizes, ownership structures and geographic locations are represented in the survey. The outcome variables of interest include measures of hospital population health activities.

Findings

Findings indicate that nonprofit hospitals are most likely to express commitment to population health and participate in population health activities, with for-profit hospitals being least likely. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Research limitations/implications

This study demonstrates that discrepancies in population health approaches exist across ownership status – particularly, nonprofit hospitals appear to be the most likely to be involved in population health efforts.

Practical implications

As we continue to push for population health management in the hospital setting, grappling with the definition and purpose of population health management will be essential.

Social implications

Overall, these results suggest that nonprofit hospitals are more likely to be implementing population health efforts than for-profit or government-owned hospitals.

Originality/value

Although there are several studies on population health in hospitals, this study is the first to investigate the relationship between ownership type and population health initiatives adopted by hospitals.

Keywords

Citation

Gabriel, M.H., Atkins, D., Liu, X. and Tregerman, R. (2018), "Examining the relationship between hospital ownership and population health efforts", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 32 No. 8, pp. 934-942. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-02-2018-0042

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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