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Title:   Health Systems Integration – Definitions, Processes and Impact: A Research Synthesis

 

Principal Investigators:

 

Esther Suter, PhD, MSW

Research and Evaluation Consultant, Health Systems & Workforce Research Unit

Calgary Health Region.

 

Funding Source:

 

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/

 

Presentations/Publications/Updates:

 

Download Final Report (October, 2007)

Or the Executive Summary

• (January 15, 2008) CIHR Invitational Workshop on Access to Care Research Syntheses
• (April 23, 2008) Poster -Building Connections: A National Symposium on Integrating Health Systems
• (April 23, 2008) Presentation - Building Connections: A National Symposium on Integrating Health Systems

 

Key findings:

·    There is no universal definition or concept of integration. The word ‘integration’ has been taken to mean the integration of system level organizations such as hospitals but it has also been interpreted as the integration at the service delivery level, such as the integration of cancer care services. For practical purposes this would suggest that there is a need to clearly identify how integration is defined, what is being integrated and to what end.

·    There were multiple models from both the healthcare and business literature. An important learning is that there is no one model which is appropriate for all organizations and situations.

·    Successfully integrated health systems typically show a combination of ten universal principles that require attention in the planning process.

·    Focusing on healthcare integration processes is just as important as paying attention to structures.

·    Measuring the impact of integration on system, provider and patient level is essential; however, there is a lack of standardized, validated tools that have been systematically used to evaluate integration outcomes.

 

Background:

 

Integrated health systems have been promoted as a means to build a more effective and efficient healthcare system that better meets the needs of the populations served. However, this concept is not well understood and its development and implementation even less so.

 

Objectives:

 

·    Provide decision-makers and other stakeholders with a comprehensive report which may assist with the development, implementation, and evaluation of integrated healthcare systems.

·    Report the unique aspects of healthcare integration in relation to rural populations and special populations such as First Nations, children and youth, mentally ill, and those with chronic diseases.

 

Methods:

 

·    A systematic literature review of health sciences and business literature.

·    A focused search of the grey literature to identify current documents from a wide range of national and international government and non-government sources.

Project Team and Partners:

 

Esther Suter (Principal Investigator) BSc MSW PhD

Research and Evaluation Consultant, Health Systems & Workforce Research Unit

Calgary Health Region

 

Carol E Adair (Co-Investigator) BA MSc PhD

Associate Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences

University of Calgary

 

Nelly D Oelke (Co-Investigator) RN BScN MN

Research and Evaluation Consultant, Health Systems & Workforce Research Unit

Calgary Health Region

 

Cam Waddell (Decision-Maker, Co-Investigator) MD MHA

Executive Medical Director, Northwest Community Portfolio

Calgary Health Region

 

Gail D Armitage (Project Coordinator) BA MA

Analyst, Health Systems & Workforce Research Unit

Calgary Health Region

 

Lori-Anne Huebner (Project Consultant) BA MEd

Independent Health Research and Evaluation Consultant

 

Time Frame: This study is funded from April 2006 to September 2007.

 

Contact Information:

 

Gail D Armitage, Project Coordinator

gail.armitage@albertahealthservices.ca or 403-943-0783

 

Esther Suter, Investigator

esther.suter@albertahealthservices.ca or 403-943-0183