Lessons in the Design and Initial Implementation of the System on Prevention, Early Identification, Referral, and Intervention for Delays, Disorders, and Disabilities in Early Childhood in the Philippines

Approximately 1 in every 10 children has a disability and in developing countries, fewer than one out of 10 of them go to school (1) (2). Persons with disabilities experience overlapping deprivations that contribute to marginalization, significant discrimination, and ultimately, exclusion in societal participation, perpetrating the vicious cycle of disability and poverty (3) (4).

Early childhood is the time when the impact of disability into adulthood can be maximally mitigated. It is, ...

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Overcoming barriers to maternal and newborn care through integrated facility and community-based services

There has been growing interest and experience of community health workers (CHWs) in recent years, especially with the goal of Universal Health Coverage. Typically, the CHWs have provided combinations of health promotion messages, treatment of childhood illnesses, malaria-control measures, nutrition interventions, family planning, and screening and supervised treatment for HIV and TB. Many CHW programs function semi-autonomously with supplies and supervision coming with varying regularity from health facilities.

For many ...

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Consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown in patients with chronic diseases in Andalusia

COVID-19 affects individuals in different ways. Most infected patients develop a mild to moderate form of the disease and recover without hospitalization but adults of any age living with chronic conditions have an increased risk of serious symptoms and severe form of illness. Based on current evidence, conditions that increase risk include asthma, hypertension or high blood pressure, overweight or type 1 diabetes mellitus (ECDC, 2020). The threat to ...

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Developing family medicine and primary care worldwide through global collaboration and co-learning

The COVID-19 pandemic represents one of the rare health emergencies that all humans on our planet have experienced simultaneously.   Global news feeds provide us with near instantaneous updates regarding case numbers and disease impacts that not only affect our immediate community, but also other communities and contexts worldwide.  In this sense, COVID-19 has truly highlighted our experience as global citizens.

Primary care (in its various global iterations, such as family ...

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Revisiting the future of integrated health services delivery

In this presentation, Dr. Minkman share some thoughts about the future of integrated care and integrated health services, by proposing an overview of main four components that support integrated services delivery. In addition, she presents a recent body of knowledge in this area identifying 18 underlying values of integrated service delivery in different contexts.

 

 

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Integrated people-centred health services (IPCHS) in Ireland: lessons learnt

Following presentation of Dr. Áine Carroll, Consultant at The National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) and Professor of Healthcare Integration and Improvement at UCD describes current lessons learnt in the design and delivering of integrated people-centred health services in Ireland.

In the context of challenging emerging demands and system constraints, a clinical strategy and over 30 national programs have been developed to improve clinician and patient experience at the lower cost. Dr. ...

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Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks (IHSDN) based on primary health care (PHC)

Integrated Health Service Delivery Networks (IHSDN) based on primary health care (PHC) are the most promising solution for health systems to satisfy the health needs of the population and to address access, efficiency, quality and equity challenges faced by health systems of the world. PHCs essential attributes (people and family centred care, comprehensiveness, continuity, longitudinality) position this approach as one of the key strategies for countries to meet ...

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A reflection on the development of Integrated Health Services Networks in the Americas

In October 2009, the 49^th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) approved the resolution “Integrated Networks of Health Services based on Primary Health Care” (IHSDN). The approval of this resolution formalized the commitment of the countries of the Americas to advance in the creation, development, and strengthening of IHSDNs in the Region, and constitutes until today a cooperation mandate for PAHO.

The resolution was accompanied by an ...

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Self-management for chronic conditions in low- and middle-income countries: how can we know what works?

Self-management of chronic conditions is an approach to engaging people in their own health care. It places increased responsibility on the patient for monitoring their condition and their adherence to treatment. Wherever health systems are under resource strain, self-management is promoted as a means to increase patient investment in their treatment plan, thus improving treatment adherence and reducing use of costly services. Initiatives to support self-management have included text messaging ...

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Continuity and coordination of care at the heart of integrated people-centred health services (IPCHS)

There are many descriptions of integrated care. I particularly relate to one framed by National Voices: ‘’My care is planned with people who work together to understand me and my carer(s), put me in control, coordinate and deliver services to achieve my best outcomes.”  It speaks of a collaborative approach to achieve what really matters to the individual and their carer(s) and places coordination of care and support at the ...

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Integrated delivery and continuity of care in times of crisis

Ensuring continuity of care in response to the Covid-19 crisis has been a key issue for public health and social care services across Europe. Whilst the implementation of local partnerships for integrated care delivery have been identified as a success factor, in many cases the reality on the ground has been one of a fragmented market. One, where providers of home care, residential care and supported living have been under ...

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Celebrating the 4th anniversary of the approval of the WHO Framework on integrated and people-centred health services: progress and opportunities ahead

This month marks the fourth anniversary of the approval of the Framework on integrated people-centred health services (IPCHS) and its accompanying resolution WHA69.24 (2016) on “Strengthening integrated people-centred health services” by the World Health Assembly. In May 2016, Member States showed exceptional support to these global commitments and requested WHO to help them implement, adapt, and operationalize this Framework. However, this was not the first time WHO recognized the relevance ...

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Key role of governance and accountability to achieve integrated people-centred health services

Models of integrated care continue to evolve globally with the goal to deliver more integrated people-centred health services. These models are characterized by innovative collaborations and partnerships across sectors. One enduring question relates to the best governance structures for these complex, multi-player systems and networks. Governance encompasses all aspects of managing health services delivery to support health system goals, including financing, human resources, and technology, and it is a critical ...

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Personalised care for long-term conditions

 Living with multiple conditions

Mary, aged 76, has diabetes, arthritis, and macular degeneration, and she’s feeling low. She recently lost her husband, Frank, who died after a long period of dementia. She cared for him devotedly for many years, but this occupied most of her time and energy and took a heavy toll on her health and wellbeing.

Mary’s GP reminds her to attend the local diabetes clinic. The specialist ...

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Patient perspective in an integrated people-centred health services (IPCHS) context

Every aspect of our lives has been changed by the digital revolution. Digital disruption has changed how we live, relate and trade with each other. The Intelligent Digital Mesh now weaves our devices, homes, cars and social and workplaces into one portal, giving us choice, options and access that is tailor-made for us. When you add artificial intelligence and machine learning to the mix, you then discover that your apps ...

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Primary Health Care: The Engine to Universal Health Coverage

The Global Conference on Primary Health Care hosted in Astana, Kazakhstan, in October 2018, renewed the core principles included in Alma Ata Declaration in 1978, emphasizing the essential role of primary health care (PHC) around the world. The Declaration of Astana focused on primary health care to ensure that everyone everywhere is able to achieve a good standard of health.

On 23 September 2019, the United Nations General Assembly held ...

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Welcome to the re-designed IC4P web platform

IntegratedCare4people.org was launched in May 2016 to support the implementation of the WHO Framework on integrated people-centred health services (IPCHS) that was approved by the World Health Assembly just a few days before. In a nutshell, the Framework promotes cross-cutting collaboration and integration across sectors, organizations, health care settings, providers and users for improving quality, responsive, efficient and resilient care. Specifically, IntegratedCare4People.org was established to stimulate the generation, translation, dissemination ...

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