A conceptual model for assessing the internal environment of a healthcare organization.

By understanding the opportunities and threats in the external environment and relating them to the organization's internal strengths and weaknesses, strategic managers can determine the distinctive competence of the organization. Distinctive competence refers to the strengths that will give an organization a competitive advantage.

Retiree health benefits in the United States: a strategic critical management review.

This article provides a critical review of studies associated with retiree health benefits in the United States. An attempt is made to determine if logical conclusions or trends could be identified regarding this issue of health care policy debate. The forms of retiree health benefits are covered, as is a discussion of Medigap policies and insurance coverage for the elderly.

Medicare health maintenance organizations. An industry analysis for the elderly in the USA.

Provides a review and analysis of Medicare health maintenance organizations in the USA. The Porter model of industry structure is used. Discusses the issues of suppliers, buyers, market entry and substitutes.

The evolution of quality in the US health care industry: an old wine in a new bottle.

Explores the evolution of the quality issue within the health-care industry and also the significance of quality in the health industry along with the historical origins of quality management. Reviews applications of total quality management in the health care industry along with implementation issues. Concludes that a fundamental understanding of the process of total quality management is an absolute requirement.

Ambulatory patient groups and redefining the roles of health care providers' delivery services in the USA.

Provides a review and analysis of the ambulatory patient groups classification system. Discusses a review of the history, development and implementation process. Concludes that in the ongoing efforts to move towards full-managed care in the not-so-distant future, ambulatory patients groups are another potential cost-cutting remedy for current health care providers and that future research into this issue is a must for public policy makers.