Integrated care could be seen as an approach to overcome deficiencies in the care management for people with chronic diseases and frail elderly, while at the same time improving efficiency, quality and effectiveness of the health services provided. In the recent years, focus has been on better coordination and integration among health sectors to manage specific diseases. The solutions we see across the world present integration between levels of care in health but also social sector. New solutions necessitate the overcoming of many boundaries, most notably between different professions, different organizations and different attitudes in both sectors.
The many experiences across Europe and around the world have demonstrated that sustainable solutions need a multi-faceted approach, which changes the processes and structures of service delivery just as much as the culture and attitudes of all stakeholders involved. Patients, families and communities need to be actively involved in this process in order to ensure that their needs are met.
This article gives an overview of the different examples of the definition and implementation elements of the integrated care and how could Poland benefit from those.
