Towards integrated healthcare delivery

Abstract

F uture healthcare delivery systems must integrate all aspects of patient care and care management if they are to successfully contain costs and improve the quality of patient outcomes, urged healthcare consultant Greg Pilkington at a recent AIC conference, entitled ‘Progressing Towards Integrated Care’ [ Auckland, New Zealand; March 1997 ]. Mr Pilkington discussed the unique advantages of managed integrated healthcare delivery systems, and the long-term critical success factors that need to be employed if integrated care is to be achieved. Representatives from the New Zealand drug industry, private health insurance market and the primary- and secondary-care settings outlined the implications of integrated care for their respective sectors, and discussed their views on, and experiences with, integrated care.