“Integrative health care” is a common term to describe teams of health care professionals or providers working holistically to provide patient care. The concept of integrative health care generally applies to the combination of complementary/alternative medicine along with conventional health care approach.

Various models of integrated health care system exist viz. parallel, consultative, collaborative, coordinated, multidisciplinary, and interdisciplinary. Each of these models occupies a position along the track from the non-integrative to completely integrative approach they provide during patient care. Integrated healthcare systems also involve physicians, healthcare establishments and healthcare plans establishing new economic and organizational relationship.

The major significance of integrated healthcare systems is the “flawless” delivery system, which offers patients better coordination among primary care physicians and specialists and between physicians and a hospital. Similarly, use of a common medical record helps assure continuity of patient care in a healthcare establishment practicing integrated healthcare system.

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