Priorities for action on the social determinants of health: Empirical evidence on the strongest associations with life expectancy in 54 low-income countries, 1990–2012

The WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health set out an impressive collection of policy proposals on the social determinants of health. However, a serious weakness for securing implementation is the difficulty for policymakers in identifying priorities for action. The objective of this study is to determine a small set of the most influential determinants using existing data and an empirical approach.

There is no evidence that national income, public spending on healthcare and education, secondary schooling, terms of international trade, employment, debt service and relief, out-of-pocket expenditures, agricultural ex- or imports, lifestock production, foreign investment, urbanization or environmental degradation are robustly associated with population health. Results provide support for the relevance of some proposed policies. The findings can inform priorities for future research and policy action on the social determinants of health.

What do we mean when we talk about the Triple Aim? A systematic review of evolving definitions and adaptations of the framework at the health system level

Notwithstanding important contributions of the Triple Aim, uncristal enthusiasm regarding the implications of the framework may be leading to  inconsistent use, particularly when apploed at the health system level, which goes beyond he original positioning of the framework as a strategic organizing principle to guide improvement initiatives at the organizational or local community level. This article identified uses of the Triple Aim that extended beyond its original intention to focus on uses at the whole health system level, to assess convergence and divergence with the original definition. They also attempted to identify consistencies in the way the Triple Aim was adapted for different contexts and settings. 

A new paradigm on health care accountability to improve the quality of the system: four parameters to achieve individual and collective accountability

Healthcare systems the world over are facing significant financial pressures and growing demands for services. Many nations have therefore set common goal of improving the population´s health, the quality of the outcomes, and the containment of costs. So, these changes in the health care systems´priorities have set the ground for an interdisciplinary approach necessary to assess the activities of health care professionals and, in general, of health care systems. 

18th International Conference on Integrated Care (ICIC18)

The International Foundation of Integrated Care (IFIC) in partnership with RIVM and Vilans presents the 18th International conference on Integrated Care “Value for People and Populations: Investing in Integrated Care” to take place in The NBC Congrescentrum, Utrecht, Netherlands 23 – 25 May 2018.

The conference will bring together researchers, clinicians and managers from around the world who are engaged in the design and delivery of integrated health and social care.

For more information, please visit the ICIC18 wesbsite: https://integratedcarefoundation.org/events/icic18-18th-international-conference-on-integrated-care-utrecht 

Coming Problems in Behavioral Health Care

People with serious mental health and substance abuse disorders remain among the most neglected stigmatized in our health and social services systems. Many with profoundi disabilities are impoverished, are unable to work and at risk of homelessness.

Fortunatelly, the  Affordable Care Act (ACA) and expansions and implementation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity of 2008 provided a significant turning point in addressing these challenges vital to the nation´s health. 

Twenty years observation of health systems and policies: what has the European observatory meant for public health?

Twenty years ago, as Europe was preparing itself for the new millennium with a mixture of enthusiasm and trepidation, the WHO Regional Director for Europe established a clearing house for health care reforms that would ultimately give birth to ‘The European Observatory on Health Care Systems’. Health systems in central and Eastern Europe were changing rapidly, with consequences for the health of the populations concerned. In Western Europe, some were exploring ways to exercise their rights to cross-border health care within the European Union and exploring new possibilities to protect health under the powers bestowed by the Maastricht Treaty. To read more...

International Summer School Integrated Care (ISSIC)

Integrated care is gradually moving out of its niche and into the focus of decision makers, clinicians and managers around the world. This has also spiked interest in how theories, concepts and components of integrated care can be operationalized and successfully implemented in practice. While there is now sufficient evidence available to support the introduction of integrated care in principle, still many question marks remain around the contextualization and evaluation of such initiatives. In addition, the move from disease-focused to population management approaches including active participation of patients and communities further adds to the complexities. This year’s summer school will discuss all of these challenges with leaders in this field whilst also introducing participants to a new module on leadership and managing change.

APIC2 – 2nd Asia Pacific Conference on Integrated Care

The 2nd Asia Pacific Conference on Integrated Care will take place in Melbourne, Australia, from 11-13 November 2019. With the overarching theme ‘Achieving better value for people and populations’ the conference is a partnership of The University of Newcastle, Centre for Rural & Remote Mental Health, Children’s Health Queensland,Central Coast Local Health District, The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association and Health Justice Australia. The conference will bring together researchers, clinicians and managers from around the world who are engaged in the design and delivery of integrated health and social care. Call for papers announced shortly.

Integrated Care Regulation, Assessment, and Inspection – A Collaborative Learning Journey

Over the past ten years, the design and implementation of integrated health and social care organisations and systems has occurred across several continents. These models of care have implied the adoption of new approaches to their organization and governance. As a result, many countries have begun to focus specifically on the regulation, assessment and inspection of integrated care. This editorial argues that there is both an opportunity and a need to share the successes and challenges from these experiences and to promote methods for collaborative learning.

Ghana country assessment report on ageing and health

Ghana, like many other countries, is experiencing a demographic transition with its ageing population. To provide reliable evidence for policy-making in ageing and health, this assessment report is prepared to identify priority issues on ageing in Ghana. By reviewing evidence from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) in Ghana and other sources, this document reveals the health status of older people in Ghana as well as the health systems response and policies relevant to ageing. The report also proposed 5 priorities relating to the prevention, treatment and care needs of older people in Ghana.

Community health alliances as social enterprises that digitally engage citizens and integrate services: A case study in Southwestern Sydney (protocol)

Community health alliances (CHAs) are a population health approach for addressing the challenges faced by people who are united by a common area of residence, sociocultural characteristic or health need, and are generally characterised by a shared mission, shared resource needs and the task of acquiring/developing necessary organisational knowledge and skills. In South Western Sydney, CHAs are being explored as an innovative approach to support the provision of integrated health services. 

Much of the population live in local government areas with levels of disadvantage higher than the state average, with a predominance of non-communicable and chronic diseases that are typically associated with age-related and behavioural factors which necessitate integrated primary and social care. 

Social enterprises can utilise digital health interventions and citizen engagement strategies to integrate health services. 

This study aims to (a) explore how CHAs in South Western Sydney operate as social enterprises that utilise digital health and ...

IFIC Scotland Webinar: Digitally enabled Care Pathways. Integrated Care Matters

The International Foundation for Integrated Care’s report, Realising the true value of integrated care describes the steps we must take to create a radically different future beyond COVID-19. The report is a powerful call to reset our compass to a new reality based on solidarity and collaboration for population health.

IFIC Scotland and partners explore this new future in series 5 of their Integrated Care Matters webinars. Guest panelists, members of IFICs international Special Interest Groups, will share their experiences and insights and challenge us to design a better future that improves lives and opportunities for all. 

The final webinar of 2020 in the Integrated Care Matters series 5 will discuss digitally enabled care pathways. All who register will receive links to the recordings and topic resources.

Additional information and guest panelists

21st International Conference on Integrated Care (ICIC21)

Population Health Management in Diabetes Care: Combining Clinical Audit, Risk Stratification, and Multidisciplinary Virtual Clinics in a Community Setting to Improve Diabetes Care in a Geographically Defined Population. An Integrated Diabetes Care Pilot in the North East Locality, Oxfordshire, UK

Disparities in diabetes care are prevalent, with significant inequalities observed in access to, and outcomes of, healthcare. A population health approach offers a solution to improve the quality of care for all with systematic ways of assessing whole population requirements and treating and monitoring sub-groups in need of additional attention.

Collaborative working between primary, secondary and community care was introduced in seven primary care practices in one locality in England, UK, caring for 3560 patients with diabetes and sharing the same community and secondary specialist diabetes care providers. Three elements of the intervention included 1) clinical audit, 2) risk stratification, and 3) the multi-disciplinary virtual clinics in the community.

This paper discusses a project designed to address three specific issues. Firstly, it reflects on the split between primary and specialist diabetes care and the impact this has on the quality of diabetes care in populations. Secondly, it proposes a population ...

IFIC Scotland Integrated Care Matters: Build Back Better Webinar Series

The new report from the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC), Realising the true value of integrated care describes the steps we must take to create a radically different future beyond Covid-19. The report is a powerful call to reset our compass to a new reality based on solidarity and collaboration for population health. IFIC Scotland and partners will explore this new future in series 5 of their Integrated Care Matters webinars.

Guest panelists, members of IFICs international Special Interest Groups, will share their experiences and insights and challenge us to design a better future that improves lives and opportunities for all. Each webinar will be accompanied by a topic resource with links to further information.

All who register will receive links to the recordings and topic resources.

Integrated Care - Defining for the Future through the Eye of the Beholder

The central defining features of integrated care which cuts across all stakeholders (people and communities, individual providers, a system of organisations, and policymakers) are continuity and coordination. Continuity occurs temporally and coordination occurs spatially. For the person at the centre of care, their experience is seamless across formal/informal care, professional, organisational and sectoral boundaries and continuous over time. For providers, they design care to effectively manage transitions from one profession, organisation or sector to another over multiple episodes of care. For policymakers, integrated care requires them to ensure that the wider context supports continuity and coordination and does not work against them.

Integrated care in practice: ensuring systems deliver for people, places and populations

This virtual conference will explore the vision and journey of established integrated care systems (ICSs) and consider how place-based partnerships, newly established relationships and system leadership can deliver a step change in health and wellbeing outcomes in population health.

Online Learning: Certificate in Integrated Care

The Certificate in Integrated Care has been designed using IFIC’s 9 Pillars of Integrated Care as a module based course of online learning. The accessible, high quality programme is offered through our digital, innovative and dynamic online learning platform. This comprehensive introductory level self-managed Certificate in Integrated Care accredited by CPD Standards UK delivered 100% online and in the comfort of your own home.

The course is based on The 9 Pillars of Integrated Care with the 5 modules as follows:

Summer School Population Health Management 2022 (online)

Are you interested in a more proactive approach in health care? Do you want a key role in a more integrated health care system? Then this Summer School is a good introduction. It offers a thorough overview of the various components in Population Health Management.

An ageing population, epidemiological challenges, rising healthcare costs, and technical developments in the medical sector are some of the topics that will be covered during the 5 day Summer School (from 4 until 8 July 2022) on Population Health Management. You will learn strategies and acquire new competences to understand and deal with these current issues and developments in healthcare.

Join the Summer School Population Health Management 2022 for an inspiring and scientific introduction to the fundamentals of Population Health Management at the LUMC-Campus The Hague  for professionals (and students) working in and around healthcare. The keynote speakers and professors during the course are experts ...