Helsana’s Region Report shows that: patients are not bound by cantonal borders. Instead, they seek out medical care regionally. Care regions are a more realistic way to meet patient needs and better explain people’s behaviour than cantonal structures.
The formation of care regions has been a simmering issue in politics for years. Connected with this is the idea of organising existing healthcare structures more efficiently. The Region Report shows the flow of patients in Switzerland and looks at the extent to which patients sought medical benefits by region or by canton.
When it comes to medical care, it shows that patients are not bound by cantonal borders. Instead, patients seek out medical benefits within a much broader catchment area. They mainly stay local when seeking out basic care, such as the care provided by general practitioners, while specialised care is focused heavily on centres.
In summary, the Region Report notes that care regions explain patient behaviour and existing cooperation networks significantly better. Helsana has identified significant potential in the coordination between cantons to ensure patient-focused healthcare.
The Region Report is an expression of Helsana’s commitment to create more transparency in the healthcare sector and to initiate a fact-based discussion. The care regions are mainly useful as a tool for making corporate and policy decisions. The report is available in the national languages of German, French and Italian.
You can order the charts from the report from the media office:
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