Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine how a complex adaptive systems (CAS) approach can be used to promote the integration of health and social care for the benefit of the user. Design/methodology/approach -This paper is a research review and a conceptual analysis of key issues identified in the growing literature on CAS. An application of the CAS approach to the field of integrated care is presented. The paper identifies crucial issues, notably: bringing together different providers and the place of the user as a co-producer of care. Findings -The benefits of the CAS approach to integrated care are distilled. Above all CAS provides managers of health and social care with an alternative mindset. Guiding principles are offered to these managers to facilitate development towards a more integrated system of health and social care. The possibility to benefit from the user's own resources is increased when organizations are viewed from a CAS perspective. CAS promotes emergent ways of working. Practical implications -The CAS approach makes possible a significant improvement in relationships between providers and users and managers and providers; a possibility of more productive relationships and better care outcomes, not least in terms of user satisfaction. Originality/value -The paper shows that CAS literature applied to the health and social care field points the way for managers to rethink the functioning of the field, specifically to go beyond the present dominant but outdated machine model to one which encourages the cooperation of providers and users for better outcomes.

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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to knowledge by exploring and distilling how providers in health and social care who have adopted complex adaptive systems thinking (CAS thinking) and have a collaborative mindset are in a better position to achieve integrated care than those who adopt reductionist approaches. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a research review and a conceptual analysis of key aspects drawn from the literature on CAS thinking and collaborative mindset applied to integrated care. By choosing this approach the authors intend to promote understanding and efforts made to put it into action. The intended audience comprises managers responsible for addressing the problem of fragmentation and the research community challenged by the task of supporting those managers. Findings – Specialization of knowledge and skill has increased the risk of fragmentation. It is possible to reduce that risk and hence to foster integrated care when providers with different specializations stimulated by a collaborative mindset develop an understanding of how they connect with others in a CAS. The essence of CAS thinking applied to integrated care is the readiness to connect. This readiness is facilitated by adopting a collaborative mindset. Originality/value – Literature on CAS thinking and collaborative mindset have evolved independently of one another. The study points at the importance of connecting the two concepts to produce effective action.

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