Virtual integrated practice: integrating teams and technology to manage chronic disease in primary care.
The use of teams in health care has generally relied on the notion that teams must physically meet and function in person in the same location, on a regular, scheduled basis, in order to maximize the value of the interdisciplinary process. This article examines the concept of creating a different kind of team in primary care, out-patient settings--one which relies upon communications technology to link together clinicians from different locations to coordinate and manage the care of patients, particularly those with chronic disease. This approach--referred to as Virtual Integrated Practice--is designed to overcome the barriers of traditional in-person teams by creating a "virtual team" with the potential to function more efficiently, productively, and satisfactorily for clinicians and patients alike.
Rothschild
Steven K
SK
Department of Family Medicine, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, 1700 West Van Buren, Suite 470, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. steven_k_rothschild@rush.edu
Lapidos
Stanley
S
D002908:Chronic Disease; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018511:Systems Integration; D017216:Telemedicine; D014584:User-Computer Interface