Strategic Management of Healthcare System and Its Impact on Patient Satisfaction in Türkiye: Sectoral Analysis of Public and Private Hospitals

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of strategic management in the healthcare system on patient satisfaction in Türkiye, with a sectoral analysis of public and private hospitals. Utilizing data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) for the period 2009-2022, the study examines key healthcare system variables, including the number of healthcare professionals, hospital beds, and the number of visits per physician. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) was calculated for each independent variable to analyze long-term trends. Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between these variables and patient satisfaction. The findings reveal significant differences between public and private hospitals in terms of efficiency and patient satisfaction. For public hospitals, the primary focus is on increasing efficiency and ensuring continuous access to healthcare services for citizens, while private hospitals emphasize service quality, market value, and profit maximization. The results show that an increase in the number of healthcare professionals and hospital beds positively impacts patient satisfaction on the public side, particularly in university hospitals. However, these variables do not have the same effect in private hospitals. Hence, the structural differences based on divergent operational goals influence the outcomes. This underscores the importance of strategic resource allocation and management in enhancing patient satisfaction. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare facility managers to improve service delivery and patient outcomes in Türkiye. Future research should further explore the socio-economic factors influencing patient satisfaction and the role of technological advancements in healthcare management.