Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Health Services Management, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Health Services Management, Health Management Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: The health system reform plan is currently being implemented in Iran due to the emphasis of health policy makers and planners on the financial protection of patients, equity in access to health services, and improvement of the quality of hospital services. This study aimed to investigate the positive effects of health reform plan from the perspective of hospital directors. Methods: This qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted in December, January, and February of 2015. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. The participants were selected through purposive sampling from among hospital directors and managers in Tehran, Iran. The content of 18 interviews were audio-typed, transcribed, coded, and then, analyzed using NVivo software. Results: The positive effects of health reform plan implementation were categorized into 8 themes and 21 sub-themes. The main themes were insurance coverage of patients in need of healthcare, performance indicators improvement, hospital management system modification, interhospital referral system improvement, improvement of patient payments control and management, improvement of selected quality indicators, increased health system accountability, and increased hospital income. Conclusion: Implementation of the health reform plan in Iran may result in the increasing of patient satisfaction and improving of health services quality if sustainable financial resources can be provided for the plan.
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