An Organisational Level Approach to Integrated Care: Models and Mechanisms

Abstract

Introduction: A major challenge for any health system is to enable health care to be integrated across different service providers in diverse organizations. A number of models of integration in have been developed to facilitate integrated care. This study aimed to identify the models of integrated primary health care and the mechanisms contained within effective models. Methods: A literature review was undertaken using a range of electronic databases and websites. A snowballing technique was used to identify additional material. Results: Common mechanisms in the Australian and International models of organizational level integration in primary health care included: partnerships, memoranda of understanding, alliance contracting, co-location and communication strategies. Discussion: The siloed structures of the past, built in part to preserve professional autonomy, are often difficult to align with the inter-professional and inter-organizational approaches required by systems thinking. However, while many challenges exist, there are also several promising approaches to enabling integration across primary health care organizations, both in Australia and elsewhere.