Coping with a turbulent health care environment: an integrative literature review

Abstract

Health care employers of allied health personnel and the academic programs producing these professionals have had to cope with an environment of major changes and ongoing turbulence. To better understand the descriptions of and research on the health care environment in relation to strategic typologies, an integrative literature review was conducted. Drawing from multiple disciplines, the information presented offers potential models and approaches to assess and respond to a turbulent health care environment for both schools of allied health and allied health practice sites. The integrative literature review revealed that innovation can enhance profitability if not pursued with fragmentation of an organization's core identity. Prospector and analyzer approaches appear to offer greater viability in a turbulent health care environment than reactor or defender types. Differentiation of services can be pursued to produce a unique reputation for a health care organization.