Publicatie

Great expectations: patient choice as a lever for change in health care.

Friele, R.D. Great expectations: patient choice as a lever for change in health care. European Journal of Consumer Law: 2011, 1(4), p. 711-722.
The introduction of market forces in the Dutch health care system is partially based on assumptions regarding patients' behavior. They are expected to actively choose their care providers. Their choices may work as a lever for change. When asked, most patients say that they find it very important to be able to choose their care provider. But, this doesn't necessarily mean that patients will actively use their right to choose. Empirical research suggests that patients' rights with a high instrumental value will be used more often than patients' rights with a primarily safeguarding value. Either patients will actively use their right to choose in an instrumental way to obtain the type of care they really prefer, or they will use this right in its safeguarding role, allowing, them to deny the services of a specific care provider they are not comfortable with, to be able to say No. An instrumental use may work as a lever for change, whereas the use as a safeguard is less likely to work as a lever for change. It is yet unknown whether, when, to what degree and why patients will use their right to choose in an instrumental way or as a safeguard. (aut. ref.)