Integrated care for older adults: a struggle for sustained implementation in northern Netherlands

Authors:
HOLTERMAN Sander, et al
Journal article citation:
International Journal of Integrated Care, 20(3), 2020, p.1. Online only
Publisher:
International Foundation for Integrated Care

Introduction: Integrated care has been suggested as a promising solution to the disparities in access and sustained high quality long-term care emerging in Europe’s ageing population. This study aims to gain a better understanding of context-specific barriers to and facilitators of implementation of integrated care by doing a retrospective assessment of seven years of Embrace. This Dutch integrated person-centred health service for older adults was based on two evidence-based models (the Chronic Care Model and the Kaiser Permanente Triangle). Despite successful deployment the programme ended in 2018. This case study assesses the impact of the programme based on past evaluations, reflect on why it ended, lessons learned and ideas to take forward. Discussion: The majority of health outcomes were positive and the perceived quality of care improved, albeit no clear-cut savings were observed, and the costs were not balanced across stakeholders. The Embrace payment model did not support the integration of health services, despite reforms in long-term care in 2015. Key lessons: Enabling policy and funding are crucial to the sustained implementation of integrated person-centred health services. The payment model should incentivize the integration of care before the necessary changes can be made at organizational and clinical levels towards providing proactive and preventive health services. (Edited publisher abstract)

Subject terms:
integrated care, models, older people, policy implementation, person-centred care, financing;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Netherlands
Links:
Register/Log in to view this article
Journal home page
DOI:
10.5334/ijic.5434
ISSN online:
1568-4156

Key to icons

  • Free resource Free resource
  • Journal article Journal article
  • Book Book
  • Digital media Digital media
  • Journal Journal

Give us your feedback

Social Care Online continues to be developed in response to user feedback.

Contact us with your comments and for any problems using the website.

Sign up/login for more

Register/login to access resource links, advanced search and email alerts