Integrated Care and Support Pioneers Program Analysis Essay

A critical analysis of the Implementation of The Government Initiative – The Integrated Care and support Pioneers programme, specifically focusing on the North West London Pioneers

This assignment aims to address what is integrated care and why it is thought to be so important within healthcare. To visit a national initiative that promotes integrated care and to critical analyse this.

What is Integrated care ? and why develop this approach to care ?

Integrated care or co-ordinated care has been discussed within health care for many years and is believed to be the best approach to healthcare. It is thought to get the best outcome for patients with co morbidities, their families and the services that provide the care. Curry and Ham, (2010) support this by suggesting that the benefits of integrated care are ‘most likely to be achieved when the model is targeted at the patients most at risk of fragmented care, such as elderly and those adults with multiple health issues. These areas of care are thought to be a drain and the integration of their care would improve the patient’s healthcare journey’. This idea of integrated care was addressed by Stein and Reider (2009) who stated that ‘we now refer to as ‘integrated care’ is an umbrella term, encompassing diverse initiatives that seek to address fragmentation, but that differ in underlying scope and values’. Evidence suggests it will reduce patients being given a disjointed approach to their needs. This is presently in many areas of care leading to repetition, seeing different healthcare providers, causing delays, as well as adding to financial pressures. Kodner and Spreeuwenbur, (2002) offers that ‘without integration at various levels of health systems, all health care performance can suffer. Patients get lost, needed services fail to be delivered, or are delayed, quality and patient satisfaction decline and the potential for cost effectiveness diminishes’. Integrated Care and Support Pioneers Program Analysis Essay