Integrated Delivery Systems

As managed care penetrates the health care market, providers of service must be competitive in this ever changing environment in order to survive. In an effort to do so, providers are purchasing other providers, negotiating contracts for services with one another, and / or forming legal affiliations. Integrated delivery systems (IDSs) are ultimately the outcome of such actions. Providers may try to join forces to extend services in a geographic area (horizontal integration) or extend the continuum of care ranging services for the neonatal to the aged (vertical integration). Hence, a complete IDS may provide services to all members within a defined community. This folder will contain sites and pages which explore IDSs from various viewpoints found on the world wide web.

Documents

Health Care in the Managed Care Setting

This document addresses the role of technology as a move in industry is made toward the integrated delivery of services. The authors, gearing the article toward health professionals, begins with definitions of technology and then apply this understanding to the pharmacy environment. Automated machines dispensing medications removes an individual pharmicist from the position freeing him / her to complete other tasks and participate in other roles. Another means of integrating pharmaceutical services discussed was the change in the packaging of medications according to illness or the use of bar codes, for example. Further, the authors of the article discuss some of the drawbacks involved in utilizing technology to integrate systems. Included in the drawbacks were patient confidentiality, claims processing, and the longevity of the technology.

Healthcare Delivery Systems Named by Glaxo Wellcome

This document informs that the company Health Delivery Systems will be overhauling Glaxo Wellcome Pharmaceuticals to fully integrate services for its patients enrollment to product distribution. This news article is intended for the public in general but more specifically to those interested in the business of healthcare. The announcement highlights the pharmaceutical industry's desire to become fully integrated in order to remain competitive in the managed care environment along with other providers such as doctors and hospitals.

Jefferson Health System

This page of the world wide web provides the mission statement of Jefferson Health System and its organizational structure. This is an example of a working fully integrated delivery system that was formed as recently as August 1995. The mission, to "improve quality of life by providing comprehensive, cost effective, state - of - the - art health services for defined populations..." exemplifies the trend of healthcare delivery. Its structure is a partnership among seven institutions in the geographic area.

PCS Launches Performance Mail

The purpose of this page on the world wide web is to disseminate the announcement of a new mail order prescription program by PCS Health Systems. This program is yet another example of the trend toward fully integrated delivery systems. The addition of the mail order prescriptions provides a new dimension of services to enrollees of the managed care plan. An effort will be made by the company to "ensure that clinically appropriate cost-effective medications are dispensed." This information is intended for both the general public and health care professionals.

The Future Isn't Just Primary Care--It's Multi-Specialty Networks

This article found on the web mainly speaks to physicians / health care providers about the future of healthcare as "market driven and medically directed." The key for success in healthcare is a "cooperative multi-disciplinary strategy," otherwise known as integrated systems. As of late, the trend for physicians has been to acquire one another and / or form organized group practices without walls. This page emphasizes trends for the future of primary care which include multicare specialty, an insistence on integration, and moving beyond the role of the gatekeeper.

Sites

American Medical Specialty Organization, Inc. Home Page

This site on the world wide web provides an opportunity for healthcare professionals to participate in a forum and ask questions which will assist them in participating in managed care settings. Additionally, other related healthcare issues are dealt with in a similar manner. Also found within the site is an ongoing poll and past poll results relating to current issues. The web page is updated weekly, constantly updating new information. I would rate this site with ***. I am able to post comments and ask questions regarding integrated delivery however, I am not sure who the "organized panel of managed care experts" are. The material was presented in an organized manner and I was able to manipulate my way with confidence.

Medscape

MedScape is a resource site on the world wide web which provides health related articles, graphics, literature searches and other information to all registered users free of cost. Managed care is highly relevant to many subscribers, and the site contained 119 articles related to this topic. Integrated delivery systems are among the topics covered in these articles. I would rate this site with ****. Despite initial problems completeing the registration questionaire, I found this site to have comprehensive, timely, exciting data. I feel as though this site is appropriate for its targeted audience, and it attains its purpose of disseminating infomation in a reasonable manner. Its organization is straight forward and the site was easy to use.

NewsPage Home Page

This site on the WWW contains daily business news in various industries including, but not limited to, the following : computer hardware, travel, media & communications, insurance, and healthcare. Under the healthcare industry, I was able to locate information regarding mergers and affiliations of companies which were moving toward full integration of services. I would rate this site with ***. The news stories I located (see documents) were brief. Use of the site was straight forward and simple, providing a small amount of information about many things. Completing the registration questionaire was timely, and I was unsure if the information I provided (i.e. name, address, phone #) would remain confidential.

Public Health Library, Internet Resources, University of Michigan

This site provides links to resources in Public Health. Included is Health Management and Policy Resources which provides further information relevant to IDSs and their developement. Other features of the University of Michigan Public Health Library site include information relevant to Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Health Education, Government Information and Epidemiology. For the targeted audience of Public Health Professionals and students, I would rate this site with ***. It provides easy access to many fields of interest under a common heading.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation -- "First Fridays"

This chat site on the world wide web features different guests to answer questions regarding the ever changing healthcare environment. This month the site features Dr. Paul Ginsburg. This internet forum relates to my topic as I may ask questions regarding Integrated Delivery System. The site is open on the first Friday of every month. I would rate this site with **. It may provide wonderful information from leading professionals in the field however, it is generally inaccessable.