Integrated healthcare

With this term increasingly being used, it is appropriate to keep you advised of how different definitions of the term continue to circulate.

Providers – insurers in particular – are tending to use ‘integrated healthcare' as a convenient means of encouraging the purchase of multiple products. The theory is that having all services with a single provider enables them to deliver 'an integrated solution' – the new Holy Grail.

Well, there is sometimes logic in buying more than one product from a single supplier, but don't expect there to be access to fully joined-up systems, account management, case management etc. The insurers’ products are, almost without exception, separate 'businesses within a business', and best of breed in each product line is not necessarily available from one organisation – at least not yet!

So what of an alternative, more realistic definition of ‘integrated healthcare’? Well, our view is that integrated healthcare 'starts at home'. It is for the employer to first 'integrate' its thinking. Often different products, services and procedures, such as benefits, absence management and occupational health, are owned by various different parts of the business with no overall plan or linking strategy.

A good starting point, therefore, is a simple review of all health and wellness arrangements and an information exchange with the different stakeholders involved within the business. Once everyone is aware of what their colleagues are doing in their area of responsibility, there is a greater opportunity for exchange of thoughts to occur, some re-shaping to take place and, perhaps, the evolution of more meaningful performance data.

A more comprehensive approach to the subject would be an audit of all current arrangements, from pre-employment screening and absence management to ill-health retirement, leading to the development of a complete health and wellbeing strategy.

This is not a subject that will go away. The Government is showing increasing signs of interest in how employers can be proactive in supporting and improving health and well-being and, with increasing pressure for business efficiency, we will all become more familiar with these issues soon.

Let us know if you are interested in exploring this. Also, look out for our second Global Wellness Survey – it will come to you soon!

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS OF A GENERAL NATURE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS ADVICE IN ANY SPECIFIC SITUATION

For further information, please telephone your usual contact at Buck Consultants (Healthcare):

Tel: +44 (0)118 955 7700
Fax: +44 (0)118 955 7701
Email: healthcare@buckconsultants.com
Web: www.buckconsultants.co.uk
Abbot's House, Abbey Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BD, UK

Buck Consultants (Healthcare) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority