Clinical Integration

Clinical integration is needed to facilitate the coordination of patient care across conditions, providers, settings, and time in order to achieve care that is safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-focused.

Some hospitals and health systems already are using a broad range of approaches to integrating more closely with physicians and other health care providers. Clinical integration spans the spectrum from initiatives aimed at achieving greater coordination around a single clinical condition or procedure to fully-integrated hospital systems with closed staffs consisting entirely of employed physicians.

Clinical integration can improve the quality and efficiency of our health care system; however, current legal barriers frustrate reform efforts. The nation needs laws and regulations that encourage or at least do not impede our progress in improving care and care delivery for patients.

This web page is just one of the many ways AHA will keep you connected to the latest developments and resources as we address needed change.