The religious affiliation of a hospital may have a special meaning for a physician as well. Conversely, if the number of physicians and consumers of the same faith is small within the hospital service area, they may seek another alternative. Simply having a religious affiliation may persuade physicians, at least initially, that this hospital may have a more compassionate attitude and not be as likely to sacrifice quality for the bottom line. Religious health care organizations may enjoy a potential marketing advantage as a result of this attitude. To the health care for-profit business, service is a means rather than an end.
Service excellence is pursued to a point of reaching profit goals and no further.
By contrast, religious health care organizations generally are committed to service excellence as an end, with successful financial outcomes as a means to that end. 1 Managed care and its cost cutting measures over the last 15 - 20 years significantly decreased the resources available to hospitals to provide the full continuum of care for their patient population. As a result of contractual restrictions, patients insured by certain managed care companies must receive care at designated hospital facilities. This can limit access to patients who previously used certain facilities. So the pool of patients who still have choice is diminished.