From e-Health to integrated health care: theory and practice.

Introduction: Health care organizations and providers are under constant pressure to do more with less. On the other hand, users of health care services are faced with problems due to errors in communication between professionals, fragmentation of care and gaps in the continuum of care.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the meaning of the term 'integration' with reference to health, and underscore the need for integration of the healthcare systems.

Methods: The literature study approach was employed. The first part underlines the conceptualizations of integration and methods for healthcare integration in practice. In the second part, the current situation in Slovenia in this field is outlined.

Results: Activities are currently underway for laying down the fundamental normative infrastructure and legal bases for implementation of the eHealth projects, establishing a common health information network, and creating the bases for a standardized electronic health medical record.

Conclusions: In the 'top-down' method, we concentrate mainly on general organizational changes for the purpose of achieving coherence and optimization. Projects that focus on the needs of individual patient groups belong under the 'bottom-up' process of integration. To achieve an optimal degree of integration, all health professionals have to play a key role in formulating the strategy of integration at all levels of healthcare.