INSTRUCTIONS

1. Integration of Health Systems
QUESTIONIntegration of Health SystemsIntegration of Health SystemsNote: Before
completing this Assignment, please familiarize yourself with the Week 4 Assignment Rubric,
located in the Course Information area of the course navigation menu.Intermountain
Healthcare is a high-performing integrated health system with facilities in Utah and Idaho.
The health system has a long-standing clinical integration structure that encourages
professional collaboration. Despite this, in 1999, many physicians at Intermountain
Healthcare found it difficult to fulfill the needs of patients with co-occurring physical and
mental health conditions. To efficiently and effectively address this issue, Intermountain
Healthcare adopted a mental health integration model in many of its primary care facilities,
as well as some of its specialty clinics and partner clinics. The team-based approach has
improved the coordination of services, resulting in higher quality care at a savings of
cost.Consider the example above. What advantages does integration afford Intermountain
Healthcare? Do other integrated health systems experience similar benefits? Are there
disadvantages to integration? If so, what are they?To prepare for this Assignment,review
the information related to vertical and horizontal integration presented in the Learning
Resources.Select one of the following horizontally integrated health systems:National
Surgical HospitalsSelect Medical HealthcareSunrise Senior LivingLabcorpQuest
DiagnosticsPfizer PharmaceuticalsAlso select one of the following vertically
integrated health systems:Kaiser PermanenteMayo ClinicCleveland ClinicMedStar
HealthMemorial Hermann Healthcare System HoustonAs an alternative, you may use
Becker’s Hospital Review resource to identify a vertically integrated health system.Using
the Walden Library and credible sources on the Internet, research your selected health
systems. Investigate the rationale for pursuing integration and the strategies each health
system has used to achieve integration. Note information related to the size of each health
system, settings/locations, and types of services it provides.Based on your research,
consider the ways in which the two health systems are similar to and/or different from one
another.Assess the business and health care-related implications of horizontal and vertical
integration of your selected health systems. How does integration impact the management
of your selected organizations and the patients/consumers they serve, especially in terms of
cost, quality, and access?Consider any applicable insights you have gained through the
Discussion for this week.The AssignmentWrite a paper in which you:Compare the
horizontally integrated health system and the vertically integrated health system you have
selected (e.g., size, settings/locations, and types of services).Explain each health system’s

2. rationale for pursuing integration and the strategies it has used to achieve
integration.Assess the business and health care-related implications of integration for your
selected health systems, including how integration impacts the patients/consumers the
organization serves.General Guidance on Assignment Length: Your Assignment should be
3–4 pages, excluding a title page and references. Refer to the Week 4 Assignment Rubric for
grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use the rubric to assess your work.