Customizing care pathways… yes but how? Contribution of hospitality management to healthcare organizations

In healthcare, the growing number of chronic patients is leading organisations to design increasingly individualised care. This personalisation is reflected above all in the development of precision medicine, which offers treatments adapted to the characteristics of each patient. In a global, “patient-centred” approach, other aspects still need to be considered. Health professionals and care givers are already called upon to take into account economic and social differences in order to adjust their practice. But many other service demands are emerging (need for information for daily life, help with housework, pet care...) which are poorly integrated into clinical practice. In other sectors these requests have been integrated and formalised for a long time. Hotel industry and hospitality management could inspire health managers when it comes to accompanying these transformations in health care.