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Are external management consultancies effective in healthcare improvement, do they reflect value for money and what are the alternative models?
Author(s) -
Skouteris Helen,
Kirkpatrick Ian,
Currie Graeme,
Braithwaite Jeffrey,
Teede Helena
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.14634
Subject(s) - health care , value for money , medicine , value (mathematics) , healthcare system , knowledge management , risk analysis (engineering) , process management , business , computer science , economics , public economics , machine learning , economic growth
Despite the increasing use and costs associated with external management consultancy for healthcare improvement, there is a paucity of formal evaluations examining impact. This paper aims to: (i) discuss the potential benefits and disadvantages of external consultancies in addressing complex healthcare challenges and delivering healthcare improvement in Australia; and (ii) explore potential alternative models, including internal consultancy and hybrid models delivered through platforms of collaborative expertise. We propose that the substantive reliance on high cost external management consultancies without demonstrating value or benefit, is unsustainable. An integrative approach that embeds research and capacity building within healthcare services may be of value.