The Art of Integrating Care: Theories Revisited

Abstract

Abstract:Integration of care is high on public health agendas all around the world. The development and implementation of integrative arrangements has been promoted for more or less two decades. Despite this every so often extensive history, there are recognised needs to take research into areas yet poorly explored, which include measures and outcomes of integrated care. On the other hand, existing evidence and knowledge can probably become more ennobled and thereby contribute to a deeper understanding of the compound art of integrating of health care services. Accordingly, the aim of this article is to re-evaluate and synthesise some revisited theories for the facilitation of sustainable integrated care solutions.This exploration shows it is important to have crucial prerequisites for integration in place: both functional and interactional conditions. This appears to be an organic process where the stakeholders go through gradual changes until the optimum level of integration as well as mutualistic interactions are established.It could be argued that refined knowledge could be excerpted from existing research. Then again, this strategy does not exclude actions for new research in poorly explored areas. Both approaches are important for the development of sustainable integrated care.

Instruments Measuring Integrated Care: A Systematic Review of Measurement Properties

“…The burgeoning of integrated care as a novel area of formal research and practice started around two decades ago . Over the years, relevant works have created awareness and stimulated greater interest in the meaning, rationale, implementation, and implications of integrated care . Although health policies dating back to the 1940s shaped more recent integrated care initiatives, the imperative to remodel health systems may have also fueled the growing interest in integrated care.…”

“…The current literature contains a substantial amount of work synthesizing the key concepts of integrated care . Leutz previously outlined the principles of integrating medical and social services to clarify arguments surrounding the early understanding of integration .…”

“…In practice, however, integration involves a combination of these 3 levels of integration . Other research described a measurement model in terms of a continuum or cycle anchored by the 2 extremes of full segregation and full integration . Browne et al.…”

“…We also included the IOM continuum of care model in our framework to depict the service delivery component of integration as a continuum that covers health promotion, disease prevention, disease detection and management, and long‐term care. Finally, to conceptualize the measurement of integrated care, our systematic review framework also adopted the continuum of integration model . This measurement model describes the degree of integration in terms of a continuum that spans the 2 extremes of full segregation and full integration; linkages, coordination, and cooperation lie between these 2 extremes …”

Coordinating Mental and Physical Health Care in Rural Australia: An Integrated Model for Primary Care Settings

“…A shared vision of service outcomes and the generation of mutually recognised benefits are acknowledged as important indicators of whether a chosen approach is working [2022]. Starting with the simple goal of improving access to primary care for those with severe and persistent mental illness, the GP Clinic has built on its success to address more complex issues such as drug and alcohol treatment and clozapine prescribing.…”