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The current state of integrated care: an overview

The current state of integrated care: an overview Purpose – Although a large amount of literature about the levels, aims, and relevance of integrated care is present, to realise change in practice knowledge about the implementation and development process of integrated care is also crucial. Instruments such as quality management models can facilitate improvement, but are not frequently used in integrated care practice. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to present further insight into these models and into the related literature about network and organisational development. Design/methodology/approach – An overview of the recent literature is presented. Findings – The improvement of integrated care is complex and there is no consensus about a set of relevant elements for integrated care. Available quality management models vary in their underlying evidence and do not have integrated care as their central focus or are aimed at specific patient groups such as the chronically ill. The lack of a consistent set of elements and the need for a generic, evidence‐based quality management model for integrated care is important for integrated care improvement. It can be assumed that, as described in the literature about networks and organisations, dynamic stages or phases could be relevant for integrated care. These issues raise important next questions for further research and for facilitating organisational change. Originality/value – The paper presents a current overview of the available literature about the concept of integrated care, with a special focus on integrated care improvement and its dynamics. It raises the relevant questions and challenges for the further expansion of knowledge about these topics, which will be addressed in a second article in a later issue of Journal of Integrated Care . http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Integrated Care Emerald Publishing

The current state of integrated care: an overview

Journal of Integrated Care , Volume 20 (6): 13 – Nov 28, 2012

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References (72)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN
1476-9018
DOI
10.1108/14769011211285147
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose – Although a large amount of literature about the levels, aims, and relevance of integrated care is present, to realise change in practice knowledge about the implementation and development process of integrated care is also crucial. Instruments such as quality management models can facilitate improvement, but are not frequently used in integrated care practice. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to present further insight into these models and into the related literature about network and organisational development. Design/methodology/approach – An overview of the recent literature is presented. Findings – The improvement of integrated care is complex and there is no consensus about a set of relevant elements for integrated care. Available quality management models vary in their underlying evidence and do not have integrated care as their central focus or are aimed at specific patient groups such as the chronically ill. The lack of a consistent set of elements and the need for a generic, evidence‐based quality management model for integrated care is important for integrated care improvement. It can be assumed that, as described in the literature about networks and organisations, dynamic stages or phases could be relevant for integrated care. These issues raise important next questions for further research and for facilitating organisational change. Originality/value – The paper presents a current overview of the available literature about the concept of integrated care, with a special focus on integrated care improvement and its dynamics. It raises the relevant questions and challenges for the further expansion of knowledge about these topics, which will be addressed in a second article in a later issue of Journal of Integrated Care .

Journal

Journal of Integrated CareEmerald Publishing

Published: Nov 28, 2012

Keywords: Integrated care; Health care; Health services; Quality management model; Implementation; Development of integrated care

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