Integrated Practice Units: A Playbook for Health Care Leaders

Abstract

Summary The playbook for assembling and integrating a successful Integrated Practice Unit (IPU) features several key steps, including defining the patient condition or set of related conditions to be served, as well as defining patient needs across the care cycle and mapping the processes involved to meet those needs. Leaders then need to assemble a multidisciplinary team by identifying the appropriate mix of clinical and patient support personnel to address the full care cycle, including common comorbid medical conditions and complications. Execution involves the creation of a number of mechanisms that facilitate and support integration across the team, including physical, financial, and IT elements. The authors offer a playbook for development of IPUs as an integral part of the Value Agenda, which is designed to provide a path toward high-value care and the business success that will result.