Please read the following passage comparing the impact of vertical

Please read the following passage comparing the impact of vertical and horizontal integration on the delivery of care in various health systems and regions PASSAGE: In this discussion, we will explore both vertically and horizontally integrated health systems in Maryland, analyzing their structure, services, and potential impacts on healthcare delivery. We’ll focus on MedStar Health and Quest Diagnostics to illustrate these concepts. Vertically Integrated Health System: MedStar Health MedStar Health is a good example of a vertically integrated health system in Maryland. MedStar Health is one of the largest healthcare providers in the state, and it has over 300 sites (MedStar Health, 2015). These include 10 hospitals, 33 urgent care clinics, ambulatory care centers, primary and specialty care providers, and essentially all of the outpatient facilities. Through having such a large network of healthcare facilities, MedStar Health is able to offer a complete spectrum of care, including acute and primary care, specialty services, home health care, rehabilitation, and medical education. The current structure of MedStar Health as a vertically integrated company is also focused on the integration of multiple services that are provided at different stages of continuous care (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). This supports the transition between various forms of care, like going from a period of initial hospitalization and the need for rehabilitation or follow-up, which they have adopted the use of electronic health records and communication technology. Horizontally Integrated Health System: Quest Diagnostics Quest Diagnostics is one example of a horizontally integrated health system in Maryland and in the United States of America. Another large clinical laboratory network is Quest Diagnostics, which offers a wide range of diagnostic testing services and has multiple facilities in the United States (Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, 2014). Quest Diagnostics, which has several patient service centers in Maryland, provides routine lab testing, specialized diagnosis services, and genetic testing. Horizontal integration means that the organization should increase the number of outlets where testing services are offered to reduce competition for Quest Diagnostics (Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, 2014). This particular strategy enables them to treat many patients and ensure that all their outlets offer equal services to the patients. Potential Impact of Integration on Cost, Quality, and Access Cost: MedStar Health: It can also be argued that organizations like vertically integrated systems such as MedStar Health can significantly reduce their cost through economies of scale and utilize resources more efficiently without redundancy. The various services to be offered by MedStar can be integrated to offer bundled payment options that will lower patient costs while also making billing processes efficient (Tim et al., 2015). Quest Diagnostics: Horizontal integration makes it easier for Quest Diagnostics to obtain affordable supplies from its suppliers and increases the number of clients, hence leading to low costs for some of the diagnosis services. However, the merger might also result in increased prices in certain locations because competition is likely to reduce as firms merge (Tim et al., 2015). Quality: MedStar Health: The care quality is usually higher in vertically integrated systems because the patient flow is likely to be well-coordinated, treatment procedures are likely to be unified, and interdisciplinary cooperation is possible. This integration enhances patient health by improving the quality and permanency of the care. Quest Diagnostics: The utilization of horizontal integration at Quest Diagnostics ensures that high-quality diagnostic services are provided when needed across the country because its centers are able to conform to standardized testing protocols and quality assurance measures. Access: MedStar Health: When a patient has multiple care settings, they enjoy a variety of healthcare services from MedStar Health services. Patients get to be served by different healthcare givers offering different specialized care, which do not require referrals and require the time to travel to other healthcare facilities (Tim et al., 2015). Quest Diagnostics: Quest Diagnostics improves access by having many laboratory centers, which makes it easy for patients to get the required tests and for clinicians to get diagnostic support as soon as possible. Implications for Management and Patient Experience Management Implications: For the incorporation to be effective, both systems demand elaborates and complex management techniques that will enable effective distribution, quality control, and profitability. While systems like MedStar Health serve different operations in vertical care structures, including many kinds of services and care providers, systems like Quest Diagnostics need to optimize operations across many separate sites (Hidayah et al., 2022). Patient/Consumer Experience: This makes patient care more efficient because it is easier to transition between those various stages, leading to a reduction in the overall time taken to provide the services. In vertically integrated systems, patients receive the best comprehensive care plan and complete services, while patients who use horizontally integrated systems receive wider access to consistent diagnostic services (Heeringa et al., 2020). In conclusion, the integration of facilities, either vertically or horizontally, affects the delivery of healthcare services in niche ways by improving cost, quality, and availability. These systems can present various opportunities and concerns but must be well-coordinated to produce the best results for patients and system operations. References Cleveland Clinic. (2022, April 22). How MedStar Health Has Successfully Integrated Cardiovascular Quality Processes Across Multiple Sites. Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland Clinic. https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/how-medstar-health-has-successfully-integrated-cardiovascular-quality-processes-across-multiple-sitesLinks to an external site. Heeringa, J., Mutti, A., Furukawa, M. F., Lechner, A., Maurer, K. A., & Rich, E. (2020). Horizontal and Vertical Integration of Health Care Providers: A Framework for Understanding Various Provider Organizational Structures. International Journal of Integrated Care, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.4635Links to an external site. Hidayah, N., Arbianingsih, & Ilham. (2022). The impact of integrated quality management-based health services on general hospital quality. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1011396Links to an external site. MedStar Health. (2015). MedStar Health. Retrieved from MedStar HealthLinks to an external site.. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. (2014). Quest Diagnostics. Retrieved from Quest DiagnosticsLinks to an external site..

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