THE INTEGRATION OF HEALTH CARE: DIMENSIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION

Abstract

This article explains the ways in which the integration of care represents a potential solution to the dysfunctional aspects of health care systems. Briefly defined, integration involves organizing sustainable consistency, over time, between a system of values, an organizational structure and a clinical system so as to create a space in which stakeholders (individuals and organizations concerned) find it meaningful and beneficial to coordinate their actions within a specific context. The consistency that integration seeks to create results from the ongoing implementation of five dimensions of the integration process: integration of care; clinical team integration (medical integration, according to Shortell, 1996); functional integration; normative integration, and systemic integration. The process of change may begin at any level of integration.