Integration of family practice centres to secondary care hospitals via health commissioning methodology

Abstract

Background: Integration of family practice centres to secondary care hospitals could help to manage chronic disease in the primary care by a cost effective way. This study aimed to identify factors needed for management of chronic disease in the primary care setting. Methods: The study has been used qualitative data collection techniques by semi-structured interviews. 273 participants that have been participated in Health Management Congress 2012 in Isparta/ Turkey were interweaved. The respondents were consisting of health professionals, managers, and social care professionals. Results: Barriers to integration were unawareness about health commissioning business models and lack of coordination across secondary and primary care health services, uncertainty about the adequacy of new health care transition systems that could be managed by effective health commissioning services. Conclusion: Health commissioning services via health integration with primary and secondary care may offer a cost effective and safe form of care for chronic disease management to family medical physicians. Interventions are therefore needed to reduce uncertainty about the implementation commissioning processes and to ensure integrated health service models of primary care.