A “design-pattern”-based approach for analyzing e-health business models
Journal
Health Policy and Technology
ISSN-Digital
2211-8837
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2012-06-01
Author(s)
Research Team
IWI1
Abstract
Background: While many e-health initiatives and projects were launched in the last couple of years, a large number of them failed or are prone to fail. These initiatives either missed to articulate a clear value proposition to patients or lacked a sustainable profit generation formula. Purpose: A core problem is the difficulty to understand and express the business logic behind e-health services in today's complex environment. Therefore, it is the aim of this study to provide appropriate means to analyze and explain business logics of e-health service provisions. Methods: The study is of ethnographic nature, since business logics were studied in their social and cultural context. Furthermore, insights were gathered from a thematic literature review on business models in the healthcare sector.Results: Based on the ‘‘design pattern'' concept applied in architecture and software engineering, three distinct examples of archetypical design solutions of successful business models are discussed.Conclusions: Explanations of the different, isolated business logics can help to increase the understanding of value creation and revenue mechanisms. Findings of this study provide e-health marketers with a tool set to develop more sustainable business models. They facilitate further research on innovation and experimentation with different business model designs.
Funding(s)
Language
English
Keywords
eHealth
HSG Classification
not classified
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher place
Amsterdam [u.a.]
Volume
1
Number
2
Start page
77
End page
85
Pages
9
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
214618