Author(s): Souza, Thiago Antonio ; Lopes, Erik Teixeira ; Lima, Rui M.
Date: 2025
Persistent ID: https://hdl.handle.net/1822/95501
Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Subject(s): Healthcare management; Hospital operations management; Lean healthcare; Value in healthcare
This paper explores the definition of value in healthcare and discusses the main challenges and opportunities in hospital operations management through semi-structured interviews. The participants included seven professionals working in hospitals and two experts with research experience on the theme. On average, they had ten years of experience in a variety of roles. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and qualitatively analysed by the researchers. Three main categories were identified for the perception of value in health: quality and safety; positive experience; and appropriate cost. For each of the dimensions analysed, a list of types of problems and opportunities was discussed, to obtain a qualitative diagnosis of the challenges in hospital operations management that can guide the actions of professionals in other regions and contexts. The qualitative diagnosis obtained is a toolbox that can guide other professionals dealing with health services’ main challenges.
