Health care markets as interorganizational fields: a conceptual perspective

Abstract

This paper examines the interorganizational (IO) field approach to the study of local health care markets. An IO field conceptualization focuses attention on organizational behavior and interorganizational relations among providers and purchasers and other health care organizations relevant to the field. This perspective is suitable for guiding evaluations of the multiple effects of pro-competition or regulative interventions on health care markets.