Horizontal integration in healthcare refers to:

Horizontal integration in healthcare refers to the strategy of combining several same-type providers or services. This approach involves merging or acquiring healthcare organizations that operate at the same level of care or are in the same market segment, such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, or physician groups. The goal is to create a larger entity that can offer a broader range of services, enhance market power, improve negotiating capabilities with insurers, and potentially reduce costs through economies of scale.

This strategy allows healthcare organizations to provide a more comprehensive suite of services to patients while improving efficiency and resource allocation. By integrating similar providers, the organization can streamline operations, share best practices, and enhance patient care coordination. For instance, if multiple hospitals in an area combine, they may be able to standardize procedures and share critical resources, leading to improved healthcare delivery.

In contrast, other options represent different concepts within healthcare management. Consolidating different service types in one location pertains to vertical integration, where a healthcare entity expands its services across different levels of care, such as outpatient, inpatient, and rehabilitation services. Merging administrative and clinical roles relates more to organizational structure and efficiency rather than integration strategy. Increasing patient diversity is typically more about service outreach and community engagement rather than the integration of similar healthcare providers.