Empirical Research in Healthcare Operations: Past Research, Present Understanding, and Future Opportunities

21 Pages Posted: 7 May 2019

See all articles by Diwas Singh KC

Diwas Singh KC

Emory University - Goizueta Business School

Stefan Scholtes

University of Cambridge - Judge Business School

Christian Terwiesch

University of Pennsylvania - Operations & Information Management Department

Date Written: April 8, 2019

Abstract

We examine the published empirical literature in healthcare operations management over the last 20 years. We note several unique characteristics of the research in healthcare operations, including a focus on operational and organizational variables, an interest in the underlying mechanisms that explain operational causal pathways, and an interest in economic and managerial implications. We organize the prior findings under five distinct themes: importance of operational variables, importance of volume, routing patients through healthcare systems, to err is human, and managing the improvement process. We also identify several key areas of future research, including personalized medicine, value-based healthcare, and connected health. We conclude with a call to action for greater engagement with the medical community in areas where tools and insights of operations management can bring about improvements in healthcare delivery.

Keywords: healthcare operations management; empirical operations management; literature review; trends

JEL Classification: C8, I1, M11

Suggested Citation

KC, Diwas Singh and Scholtes, Stefan and Terwiesch, Christian, Empirical Research in Healthcare Operations: Past Research, Present Understanding, and Future Opportunities (April 8, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3368317 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3368317

Diwas Singh KC (Contact Author)

Emory University - Goizueta Business School ( email )

1300 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30322-2722
United States

Stefan Scholtes

University of Cambridge - Judge Business School ( email )

Trumpington Street
Cambridge, CB2 1AG
United Kingdom

Christian Terwiesch

University of Pennsylvania - Operations & Information Management Department ( email )

Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
241
Abstract Views
1,104
Rank
195,477
PlumX Metrics