Governing Patients' Mobility to Pursue Public Value

Abstract

This chapter combines traditional performance management and system dynamics simulation modelling to address patients' mobility issues and pursue public value. The Italian case study is a first illustration of travelling flows' causal structure; however, the perspective is to introduce such methodological approach also at European level. After a literature review about the main factors inducing healthcare mobility, the phenomenon is explored in light of public management theories. Then, a model portrays the causal structure of the phenomenon in terms of system dynamics and performance management items. There follows a discussion of theoretical and managerial implications of the study, as well as ideas and issues for next research steps.