The crucial difference between a process and an episode
focus is the planning and scheduling of production steps and events. In a process, the production steps follow a known medical or technical logic allowing pre-planned sequences. There are, however, situations of patient-induced variability where the episode follows its own logic that can’t be predicted in detail. The episode becomes the nexus of coordination. Varying health events call for different service events that can be produced by mobilizing resources of the supply network. Accessing required resources within a limited time frame becomes the focus of the coordination effort. An event- perspective focuses attention to mobilization, the identification and interpretation of the inputs and signals that should activate an event.