Impact of Strategic Alliance on Patient Volume: A Study of Rural Chandigarh Gastro Clinic and an Urban Tertiary Hospital

Dr. Mudit Kumar, Dr Monika Sachdeva, Dr Sunil Baliga B

Abstract: Strategic alliances in rural healthcare are common but usually focus on operational aspects. This is the study of alliance between a rural outpatient centre and a tertiary urban hospital to expand the scope of services at rural centre. This is a study to assess if the alliance can make a significant impact on patient volumes at a rural outpatient centre. It also analyses the benefits to bigger hospital in form of the conversion rate from smaller partner of alliance. The questionnaire-based survey was performed to identify the effectiveness of marketing activities for increasing patient volumes in rural scenario. The data is collected for a period of 8 months after the alliance and is compared with similar months? data prior to alliance. The paired t-test shows that alliance could not make a significant impact on patient volumes. There is a 62% conversion rate from rural outpatient to inpatient urban partner. The external marketing activities could influence just 8% of society whereas majority are influenced by the patients? word of mouth in the rural healthcare context. We conclude that over short duration, the alliance is unable to significantly impact the patient flow at rural centre.

Keywords: Rural healthcare alliance, hospital partnership effectiveness, patient volume analysis, word of mouth referral trends

How to Cite?: Dr. Mudit Kumar, Dr Monika Sachdeva, Dr Sunil Baliga B, "Impact of Strategic Alliance on Patient Volume: A Study of Rural Chandigarh Gastro Clinic and an Urban Tertiary Hospital", Volume 14 Issue 10, October 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1222-1230, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251023131304, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251023131304