Integration of Health Systems
Note:Before completing this Assignment please familiarize yourself with the Week 4 Assignment Rubric located in theCourse Informationarea of the course navigation menu.
Intermountain Healthcare is a high-performing integrated health system with facilities in Utah and Idaho. The health system has a long-standing clinical integration structure that encourages professional collaboration. Despite this in 1999 many physicians at Intermountain Healthcare found it difficult to fulfill the needs of patients with co-occurring physical and mental health conditions. To efficiently and effectively address this issue Intermountain Healthcare adopted a mental health integration model in many of its primary care facilities as well as some of its specialty clinics and partner clinics. The team-based approach has improved the coordination of services resulting in higher quality care at a savings of cost.
Consider the example above. What advantages does integration afford Intermountain Healthcare? Do other integrated health systems experience similar benefits? Are there disadvantages to integration? If so what are they?
To prepare for this Assignmentreview the information related to vertical and horizontal integration presented in the Learning Resources.
Selectoneof the followinghorizontally integratedhealth systems:
Also selectoneof the followingvertically integratedhealth systems:
As an alternative you may use Beckers Hospital Review resource to identify a vertically integrated health system.
Using the Walden Library and credible sources on the Internet research your selected health systems. Investigate the rationale for pursuing integration and the strategies each health system has used to achieve integration. Note information related to the size of each health system settings/locations and types of services it provides.
Based on your research consider the ways in which thetwohealth systems are similar to and/or different from one another.
Assess the business and health care-related implications of horizontal and vertical integration of your selected health systems. How does integration impact the management of your selected organizations and the patients/consumers they serve especially in terms of cost quality and access?
Consider any applicable insights you have gained through the Discussion for this week.
The Assignment
Write a paper in which you:
General Guidance on Assignment Length:Your Assignment should be 34 pages excluding a title page and references. Refer to the Week 4 Assignment Rubric for grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use the rubric to assess your work.
Required Resources
Readings
Use the following resources to select integrated health systems on which to focus for your Assignment. You may also use this list to develop background information as you research health systems in your area for the Discussion.
Vertically Integrated Health Systems
Horizontally Integrated Health Systems
