Abstract
Integrated Delivery System (IDS) is a network of healthcare facilities under a parent holding company. The term is used broadly to define an organization that provides a continuum of healthcare services. IDSs align incentives and resources better than most healthcare delivery systems, leading to improved medical care quality while controlling costs. In the Government’s efforts to improve the quality of care and reduce the cost of healthcare delivery, this system can be implemented and utilized during the time of increased healthcare cost and reduced government’s budget. It is a system that allows utilization of the available resources without the excess expenditure of care. Currently, most of the Middle East countries are faced with a lot of financial constraints, a matter that forced several governments to take certain actions to reduce its expenditure and look for means of maintaining the level of Healthcare, as well as reduce its cost. In Saudi Arabia, privatization of healthcare is an approach which the government is utilizing to ease the pressure of increasing healthcare cost. Yet this is not the only solution that the government can take. In this paper, I will present the IDS system as an alternative to reduce cost while maintaining the quality of care desired. I will discuss the approach to implementing the IDS system, outline the pros and cons of the system. I will discuss the different types of Integration and the approach to its development. Also, I will present the infrastructure needed to develop the system and the obstacles to its implementation. I will share some of the experience in developing the system in other countries and the result they have achieved.
Highlights
At the time of financial constraints, we tend to look for means and systems to decrease our expenditure
There is great between Integrated Delivery System (IDS) and Accountable care Organizations (ACO), integrated healthcare delivery systems share with ACOs many of the same organizational features, foremost among them being high levels of organizational and clinical service integration
The performance of existing IDSs with respect to quality and cost of care are being assessed to predict how well ACOs will perform in the future of the healthcare delivery system
Summary
At the time of financial constraints, we tend to look for means and systems to decrease our expenditure. Integrated Delivery System (IDS), is an organized, coordinated and collaborative network that links various healthcare providers, via common ownership [3]. Vertical integration is defined by the Pan American Health Organization as “the coordination of services among operating units that are at different stages of the process of delivering patient services” [5] This will lead to increase efficiency and manage global capitation, form large patient and provider pools to diversify risk, reduce the cost of payer contracting, improve quality of care and provide a seamless continuum of care. 4. Payer Partnerships – As IDS improves the quality of patient care and clinical processes and reduces costs, hospitals are able to achieve better reputation and it will work as marketing tools for them. Improved Health of the Community – IDS will result in great improvement in the community health and will generate more confidence in the healthcare system and the providers
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