Introduction:

The Healthcare industry is tackling multiple challenges today. However, the hope for a better health future is possible with technology and strategic decision-making. Recent developments in the healthcare industry include integrated health systems as one of them. Integrated health systems are coordinate care of primary and behavioural health, and it is beneficial for providers and patients in many ways.   

Today advanced telehealth solutions and patient engagement systems are hot topics among providers. Integrated health systems can boost these care services, benefiting providers. Patients are satisfied, low hospital readmissions and more savings mean providers’ benefits.    

Healthcare software product development leaders also advocate for integrated health solutions to promote value-driven care offerings. Value-based care services aim for quality care services to patients for improved outcomes. It’s just a concept that providers follow to improve their care delivery and patient experience overall. So, integrated medical solutions are a comprehensive range of services to provide holistic care to patients. This means improved patient outcomes. An integrated health care system enhancing patient outcomes also directly impacts patients’ experiences.   

If you’ve decided to transform your practice into an integrated health system, you must consider a customized system as per your organizational needs. Custom healthcare software solutions  for integrated healthcare delivery systems can boost patient outcomes effectively. However, you can learn more about integrated healthcare solutions and how it enhances value-based care.   

Challenges in Implementing Integrated Health Systems   

Challenges in Implementing Integrated Health Systems

Providers must understand its organizational ecosystem to note pain points in their system. Even if there aren’t any major issues, providers must consider potential challenges in implementing any health solutions. Implementing integrated health systems also have a few roadblocks.  

    1. Physician Workflow Reorientation

     

    Maintaining physician workflows is a big challenge in health care management. Physician burnouts are pretty common. Some surveys pointed out nearly 50% of physicians have experienced some exhaustion or burnout. Integrated health systems can eliminate this issue with flexibility and easy transition. Integrated health solutions can boost physicians’ productivity with their workflow reorientation. Moreover, with physician workflow reorientation, an integrated health care system can help providers transition to value-based care. Also, automated healthcare solutions effectively manage the physician workflow, boosting integrated health systems.   

    2. Overdependence on EHR

     

    EHR is one of the biggest aids in today’s healthcare industry. It helps the care continuity process in the integrated health system. Reducing resources and paper waste, minimizing errors, and streamlining workflow, EHR in integrated health systems plays a major role. However, in the case of acute care or post-acute care patients, the EHR information isn’t enough. So, providers in an integrated health system can’t depend entirely on EHR data. Since integrated care includes multiple caregivers, detailed patient information is essential. So, integrated health care solutions and providers must ensure this for better patient outcomes.   

    3. Special Attention to Acute risk patients

     

    Like overdependence on EHR in integrated health systems isn’t good. Similarly, not considering acute risk patients’ needs impacts the integrated system. Acute and post-acute care patients require more attention and coordinated care. Even a remote patient monitoring system is needed in some cases. So, ensuring acute and high risks patients’ care quality and the outcome is essential in an integrated health care system. Moreover, this promotes patient experience and provides overall value-based care.   

    4. Information accuracy

     

    Data from EHR and other portals can impact the care quality and patient outcomes. Even in integrated care management, patient data offers insights on improving the care service. Errors in patient information shared across the care continuum severely affect patient outcomes. So, providers with integrated health care solutions must ensure data accuracy and safe electronic data exchange between different physicians.   

Key Components of Integrated Health Systems

Key Components of Integrated Health Systems

Integrated healthcare delivery systems today include many features and components to enhance patient outcomes. Different physicians and caregivers have additional requirements for patients’ treatment. So, integrated delivery systems must check with some of these major components for effective delivery.   

    1. Individualized patient care and patient portals 

    Any practice management solutions including integrated health systems’ prime focus is patient outcomes. Offering comprehensive care, integrated health systems must aim to provide individualized care. And this is possible through patient portals. So, providers willing to invest in integrated health systems must include personalized patient portals for adequate care.   

    2. Multidisciplinary case references

     

    Interdisciplinary cases are another essential component of an integrated medical system. High-risk and acute care patients in integrated care require special attention. So, multidisciplinary case references help providers meet acute care patients’ needs. Also, providers can better make treatment decisions to improve patients’ health and boost value-based care.   

    3. Joint decision making

     

    Integrated health system includes primary physicians, behavioral clinicians, and acute care providers. And improving the overall patient outcomes requires collective and coordinated decision making. So, the integrated health system must ensure that all the stakeholders are involved in the clinical decision-making. Further, joint decision-making benefiting patient outcomes also drives value-based care services.   

    4. Information sharing

     

    Integrated health systems require safe and fast information sharing between clinicians—accurate and secured information sharing boost patients’ care outcomes and value-driven care. Providers can also use medical informatics to manage complex data for integrated care systems. Moreover, providers must also think of data storage, a potential problem when information sharing. Healthcare cloud computing helps in proper data storage and sharing too.   

Benefits of Integrated Health Systems

Key Components of Integrated Health Systems

You must know the major benefits of an integrated health system now that you know the roadblocks and critical components of an integrated health system.   

    1. Better Patient Experience  

    The integrated health system aims to improve care quality to ensure a better patient experience. Patients in integrated health care management receive 360-degree care, enhancing their experience and engagement. And with improved patient outcomes and experience, providers with integrated care continue to offer value-driven services.    

    2. Efficient and streamlined workflow  

    With improved patient experience, integrated health systems streamline physician workflows. Maintaining workflow across multiple care settings is complicated. But with integrated care, physicians across different care settings deliver their services without hindrances.   

    3. Seamless interoperability

    Integrated health systems mean continuous information sharing between clinicians. And well-designed integrated care management ensures this with seamless interoperability. Moreover, providers with integrated health systems need to meet interoperability standards and regulatory compliance to share data and enhance patient outcomes securely.   

    4. Coordinated care

    One of the major benefits that healthcare providers with integrated health systems have, is coordinated care. Integrated solutions enhance patients’ health with continuous, coordinated care from primary diagnosis to behavioral therapy and treatments.   

    5. Cost-effective

    Of all the benefits, the cost-effectiveness of an integrated health system impresses providers the most. When patient outcomes are excellent, hospital visits and readmissions reduce. This boosts providers’ savings and value-based care services too.   

Conclusion

In today’s medical industry, the integrated health system is a big step towards patient outcome improvements, just like other patient engagement solutions. Although there are several barriers to the right strategy, providers can effectively implement integrated health systems. And appropriate strategizing of the integrated health system also boosts value-driven care services. A value-based integrated care system ensures high-quality care delivery that improves patients’ results. So, integrated health systems check patients’ primary and behavioural health, records much better results than traditional care delivery. Besides, such coordinated care enhances providers’ ROI and practice too.   

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