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Seriously working together: integrated governance models to achieve sustainable partnerships between health care organisations
Author(s) -
Jackson Claire L,
Nicholson Caroline,
Doust Jenny,
Cheung Lily,
O’Donnell John
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01746.x
Subject(s) - corporate governance , service delivery framework , business , government (linguistics) , process management , integrated care , health care , public relations , process (computing) , work (physics) , clinical governance , project governance , service (business) , knowledge management , political science , marketing , economics , economic growth , engineering , finance , mechanical engineering , linguistics , philosophy , computer science , operating system
Objective: To identify sustainable governance arrangements for health care organisations undertaking integrated health service delivery based on best available evidence. Method: Systematic review of the literature (1990–2006), supported by key informant interviews as an integrative process. Results: 16 studies met our selection criteria. All described enablers of and barriers to delivering integrated health services. We identified three models for integrated health care governance with a demonstrated ability to be sustained in the medium term. Common themes that emerged as the logical starting point for more ambitious integrated governance arrangements regionally were: the need for a clear separation between governance and operational management; and the need for local communities with the vision, leadership and commitment to extend health service integration. These themes were reinforced by interviews with key informants. Careful measurement of the process, impact and outcomes of such activities was often overlooked. Conclusion: State governments are increasingly attempting to work with non‐government organisations and the private sector to maximise scarce resources in the face of increasing health care demand. Ambitious integration agendas must be underpinned by effective governance mechanisms that are appropriate to the undertaking, the stakeholders involved and the scale of delivery.