A text-net analysis of mission statements in the healthcare industry: Evidence from public and private hospitals’ websites

Abstract

This study explores components of hospital mission statements by combining text mining techniques and network analysis. By considering 153 public and private hospitals with a published mission statement in English, it evaluates influential words and identified clusters and components in hospital mission statements, determined (in)connections among the statements. Similarities and differences based on hospital ownership status (i.e. public or private) are provided. The assessment of English versions of mission statements in Turkish hospitals generated seven clusters: (1) quality and quality of health services, (2) technology orientation, (3) focus on modern medicine, (4) societal expectations, (5) universal standards, (6) institutional philosophy, and (7) employees. Significant differences in the components of public and private hospital mission statements are identified and the potential contributions to practitioners in developing their mission statements is discussed.