Summary
Mutual understanding and trust between two healthcare organizations or two medical specialists are crucial in forming a new partnership in the healthcare industry. The initial stage of a formal acquaintance of such entities is usually a joint purchase of medical equipment and systems or co-sponsorship of various programs and initiatives to improve the functioning and operating of infrastructure facilities. Experts state that “Catholic healthcare systems and institutions share in the joint purchase of technology and services with other local facilities or physicians’ groups” (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2009, p. 34). The similarity of ethics and morals also matters in the creation of new partnerships since their conflict can lead to human and financial losses for both parties in the long run. A new alliance is usually profitable for both parties, as it increases resources for both and makes their networks wider.
New Partnerships Formation, Similarities, and Differences
The formation of new partnerships in secular and Catholic health settings is very similar. In both cases, the primary interests that drive both sides are money, technology, networks, and influence. Such similarity is because “public health systems are often built on religious foundations” (Bottone, 2022, para. 8). A slight difference is that non-religious health organizations focus less on the moral aspects of human dignity when creating an alliance. It is noteworthy that the morality of respect for human dignity is the cornerstone of Catholic medical ethics (Catholic healthcare, n.d.). The types of health provision infrastructural systems discussed differ in their views on advance directives and abortion when a woman becomes pregnant in the aftermath of a sexual assault (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2009). Catholic health organizations may not provide specific procedures if they are contrary to Christian principles. It may raise a scandal in the existing partnership as it directly relates to the provision of medical, mental, and spiritual services to patients.
Effect of New Partnerships
New partnerships mean new ways to communicate and expand for entities; this is the rule of all professional and informal human relationships, and Catholic health care is no exception. Experts note that “at whatever level, new partnerships forge a variety of interwoven relationships” (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2009). It allows Christian medical organizations and individual providers to extend their influence to institutions, sub-sectors, and communities. Moreover, those with many partners control more facilities, such as hospitals and clinics. Interestingly, “four of the 10 largest health systems in the United States are Catholic” (Solomon et al., 2020, p. 6). Those employees and persons responsible and involved in forming new alliances make competition within the institution more intense and less chaotic. They stabilize the system, yet they also allow it to improve itself.
On Partnerships on Oligopolies
I see the formation of new health partnerships as a positive trend for improving the whole system, but I also view this topic with a bit of skepticism. As discussed earlier, it is a fact that partnerships enhance the efficiency of the operation and functioning of the healthcare institution. I suspect that the abuse of partnership relations can lead to an oligopoly in health care in the long run. An oligopoly is a situation where several major market players prevent others from becoming top economic actors (The Investopedia Team, 2021). Oligopoly would lead to a decrease in the quality of services and de-escalation of competition.
References
Solomon, T., Uttley, L., HasBrouck, P., & Jung, Y. (2020). Bigger and bigger: The growth of Catholic health systems. Community Catalyst.
Bottone, A. (2022). Catholic healthcare better than the secular alternative. Iona Institute for Religion and Society. Web.
Catholic healthcare. (n.d.). SCL Health. Web.
The Investopedia Team. (2021). Oligopoly defined: Meaning and characteristics in a market. Investopedia. Web.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Eds.). (2009). Ethical and religious directives for Catholic health care services (5th ed.). USCCB.