THE INTEGRATED CARE HUB: A MODEL FOR STREAMLINING PATIENT JOURNEYS ACROSS HEALTH DISCIPLINES

Abstract

Healthcare fragmentation creates significant challenges for patients navigating complex systems across multiple disciplines, resulting in inefficient care delivery, potential safety risks, and suboptimal patient experiences. This study examines the Integrated Care Hub (ICH) as an innovative model for streamlining patient journeys across health disciplines. Drawing on current literature and emerging evidence, we explore the theoretical foundations of integrated care, key components of the ICH model, implementation considerations, benefits, challenges, and future directions. The ICH model encompasses central coordination and navigation, shared electronic health records, multidisciplinary teams, standardized care pathways, patient engagement, technology infrastructure, and continuous quality improvement processes. Evidence suggests this approach can improve clinical outcomes, enhance patient experiences, increase efficiency, promote equity, and boost provider satisfaction. However, implementation faces challenges including organizational complexity, funding sustainability, technology barriers, professional boundaries, and evidence gaps. Future development will likely be influenced by digital integration, population health management, value-based payment models, patient-driven design, and cross-sector collaboration. By focusing on the patient journey and breaking down traditional silos between health disciplines, the ICH model offers significant potential to transform healthcare delivery in increasingly resource-constrained environments.