Healthcare integration is the systematic coordination of healthcare services, organizations, and levels of care to improve the continuity, quality, and efficiency of patient care delivery. As an academic concept and research field, it investigates the structures, processes, and outcomes associated with the alignment and connection of disparate components within the healthcare system. Key characteristics include mechanisms facilitating seamless patient transitions, shared information systems, coordinated care pathways, and interdisciplinary collaboration, recognized for their significance in mitigating fragmentation, enhancing patient experience, optimizing resource utilization, and advancing population health outcomes.