Due to increasing scarcity of financial resources in the health care system and rapid medical progress, economic aspects are becoming the centre of attention for all service providers. It is of great importance how the players involved (clinics, acute or rehabilitation, health care centres, but also doctors surgeries/ surgery networks, health insurers and investors) move in this increasingly competitive environment.
Improved integration and the collaboration of all health care areas on a medical, economic and organisational level represents a central challenge. Furthermore, service providers are able to survive in the market only if they open up new sales fields and provide their own services in a customer-oriented and efficient way. Integrated health care in accordance with § 140 ff. SGB V, in addition to the model plan in accordance with § 63 SGB V, offers service providers and health insurers the option of developing new health care forms in a trans-sectoral way. Nevertheless, significant loss of quality and efficiency can still be observed at the interfaces of outpatient and inpatient healthcare .
These processes can only be effectively controlled and optimised, however, if medical responsibility goes hand in hand with economic responsibility.