Prioritisation of tools for integrated care: Local survey of health professionals' beliefs and expectations

• Published in: Semergen, medicina de familia Vol. 44; no. 8; pp. 530 - 536
• Main Authors: Corral Gudino, L, Rodríguez Arroyo, L A, Zorita-Viota Sánchez, L M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Spain 01-11-2018
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Communication; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated - organization & administration; Female; Health Care Surveys; Health Personnel - organization & administration; Health Personnel - psychology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Care - methods; Primary Health Care - organization & administration; Spain; Spain; Prestación integrada de atención de salud; Relaciones interprofesionales; Surveys and questionnaires; Continuity of patient care; Comunicación; Delivery of health care integrated; Encuestas y cuestionarios; Continuidad de la atención al paciente; Inter-professional relationships; Communication
• ISSN: 1578-8865
• DOI: 10.1016/j.semerg.2018.09.004

Integrated care is a top priority for most of the National Health Services. In this study, an evaluation is made on the professional's beliefs and expectations regarding integration.
Between March and June 2017, Health Professionals from El Bierzo, León, Spain, were invited to complete 2 questionnaires on health integration process, including an online questionnaire on patient care integration (405 and 211 participants, respectively out of the total 1854 professionals).
Three out of four professionals pointed at communication as the most important factor to achieve integration. Medical records, Health Care Education and medication reconciliation were the other prioritised factors. Care pathways (98%), nurse navigator (93%) or shared care protocols (92%) were highly recommended. The entire Hospital Service (55%) was the preferred link, with Primary Care versus a single consultant for every Primary Care Centre (29%), or for all the whole area (16%).There were no differences between primary and hospital services in most of the tools assessed.
Communication tools are the cornerstone to achieve a successful integration of the care services according to Health Professionals.