What is Integrated Care? 9 Things You Should Know

1. What is Integrated Care?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) defines Integrated Care as “an approach to coordinate health care services to better address an individual’s physical, mental, behavioral, and social needs.”

2. What Are the Key Features of Integrated Care?

The minutiae of each care system’s approach to Integrated Care will vary somewhat based on respective stakeholder goals, but there are a few widely accepted features, including that it:

• Must involve consolidating key aspects in the design and delivery of care systems that are fragmented
• Must deliver care to patients in need
• Results when the optimization of care requires integration

3. What is an Example of Integrated Care?

A patient living with both type 2 diabetes and major depressive disorder may struggle to adhere to their medication regimen or reach out to their provider due to the lack of motivation commonly associated with depression. An integrated approach would involve a multidisciplinary team of specialists (for example: An endocrinologist, a behavioral health professional, nurses, and caregivers) who seamlessly collaborate and coordinate care, making it easier to monitor the patient’s status and note any issues that arise.

4. Is There a Difference Between Integrated and Integrative Care?

Integrated and integrative are sometimes used interchangeably in healthcare contexts, and while they do share some similarities, they actually have their own distinct meanings. Integrated Care functions as a collaboration between medical providers and other relevant professionals, whereas Integrative Care is a blend of clinical treatments and complementary factors, such as meditation, vitamin supplements, or yoga therapy.

5. What Are Some of the Benefits of Integrated Care?

Integrated Care isn’t just advantageous for patients—providers and caregivers can also benefit in the following ways:

Benefits for Providers

• Less paperwork: Better care coordination means less time spent sifting through endless paperwork caused by patients moving from office to office in search of different services and providers who will accept their insurance.
• Easier follow-up: Care teams can quickly check in on the patient’s status, coordinate with other members of the care team, and follow up accordingly.
• Fewer compliance risks: HIPAA compliance-related issues are less likely because the patient’s data is stored in a central location and (ideally) should never have to be moved.
• Less provider burnout: With collaborative care, the workload is more evenly distributed across members of the care team, helping to prevent burnout.

Benefits for Caregivers

• Easier navigation of the healthcare system: When care is well-coordinated, it becomes significantly easier for the patient’s family and/or caregivers to navigate the (notoriously complex) American healthcare system.
• Respected values: With an integrated approach to care, caregivers and families play a vital role in the decision-making process, allowing personal and/or cultural values to be incorporated into the care plan.
• Reduced costs: Fewer unnecessary treatments and medical errors lessens financial burden.

6. How Does Integrated Care Improve Patient Outcomes?

Integrated Care has the potential to improve patient outcomes in numerous ways, including:

Fewer Gaps in Care

A well-coordinated care plan is crucial for avoiding care gaps because it can help flag overdue appointments, monitor new symptoms that appear, and facilitate timely interventions. Additionally, patient data is centralized and all parties are aligned on preferences and goals, making care gaps much less likely.

Boost Overall Well-Being

A holistic approach allows the care team to address all aspects of the patient’s life that could impact their physical and mental well-being.

Better Patient Engagement

Patients who are active participants and decision-makers in their own care plans are more likely to adhere to their medication regimens and lifestyle modifications.

7. Who is the Ideal Patient for Integrated Care?

Patients with chronic and/or complex conditions benefit significantly from Integrated Care, as they typically see many different specialists.

Patients Who Can Benefit the Most May:

• Take multiple medications daily
• Visit various providers on a regular basis
• Require technology for assistance
• Frequently visit the ER
• Live with physical and/or cognitive impairments
• Struggle with daily activities and/or independent living

8. Does Integrated Care Come With Any Challenges?

Integrated Care can be difficult to implement, as it means that practices may be required to restructure their payment strategies, put new infrastructure in place, and train staff on updated protocols.

9. Is Integrated Care the Same Thing as Patient-Centered Care?

Patient-Centered Care and Integrated Care have quite a bit in common, as you may recall from an article we recently published outlining the basics of the former. There are, however, some differences to note: Both approaches place emphasis on individualized, holistic care, but Patient-Centered Care focuses more intently on the patient as the central figure in the care plan, whereas Integrated Care is more concerned with the system’s ability to coordinate services.

To put it simply, Patient-Centered Care is the who and Integrated Care is the how.

Take Advantage of the Latest Technology

As Integrated Care becomes more commonplace in treating patients with complex and/or chronic conditions, it will be increasingly important for clinicians and practices to be fully up to date on the latest technologies and protocols to ensure that care delivery is streamlined and of the highest quality. Make the process simpler by working with an advanced Chronic Care Management platform that makes it easy to coordinate with care team members, view critical documentation, and quickly communicate with patients.

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