Why more employers and insurers are turning to integrated health care

The information that integrated health care delivers helps providers see the broader picture, allowing them to better prevent, diagnose and treat illness. (Photo: Getty)

“Integration” has become a buzzword in health care. It sounds good, but what does it really mean? Quite simply, integration in health care is all about connecting otherwise separate parts of the health care system to drive better outcomes, lower costs and improve the customer experience. The evidence shows connected patient care, in which the patient’s whole health is considered, leads to the best health outcomes. To support and complement this approach, insurance companies are designing innovative integrated health care benefits packages.

When medical, pharmacy, dental, vision and disability care are seamlessly connected and the full power of integrated data is unlocked — including member claims, population insights and employers’ health management programs — health care providers have access to a complete picture of employees’ health and well-being in a format that is easy for multiple providers to access and interpret. Instead of walling these services off in a silo, they are integrated into one system, allowing for the optimized collection and sharing of key, actionable information.