Integration and coordination in healthcare: an operations management view

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a definition of integration and coordination in health service production, and to derive basic design rules.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an operations management perspective and applies a design science methodology to identify purposes, contexts, and design rules.

Findings

Integration and coordination need to be conceptually separated, as the former means the merger of various service contributions into a common understanding, while the latter means the arrangement of service elements into processes.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is theoretical, and based on one perspective.

Practical implications

Basic design rules for bottom‐up care integration are presented.

Originality/value

The paper provides a novel perspective to the discourse on integrated care.

Citation

Lillrank, P. (2012), "Integration and coordination in healthcare: an operations management view", Journal of Integrated Care, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 6-12. https://doi.org/10.1108/14769011211202247