What does 'integrated healthcare' typically involve?

Integrated healthcare typically involves a coordinated approach to care that combines physical and behavioral health services. This model is designed to ensure that all elements of a patient's care are interconnected and holistic, addressing both the physical aspects of health and the psychological or behavioral factors that can influence overall well-being. This is crucial as many health conditions are multifaceted, requiring input from various specialties to provide comprehensive care.

Coordination in integrated care allows for better communication between healthcare providers, which can lead to improved outcomes, a more efficient use of resources, and a better patient experience. By integrating services, healthcare systems can also work to prevent fragmentation that often occurs when patients receive care from multiple providers who do not communicate with each other.

The other options reflect approaches to healthcare that do not emphasize the interconnected and holistic nature of patient care. Segregated health services, for instance, involve distinct treatment pathways without coordination between them, while independent treatment focuses on specialists working in silos rather than collaboratively. Increased automation, while potentially beneficial, does not directly address the key aspects of care integration that are essential in providing a seamless healthcare experience for patients.