Integrated care for MS patients.
OBJECTIVE
The problem of complex healthcare to MS patients, together with the rising prevalence of MS and escalating costs, has caused healthcare policy makers to consider innovative approaches to controlling costs and improving the quality of care. An integrated care approach may provide a means for better coordination and delivery of care. The aim is to review recent integrated care initiatives and their significance for MS patients.


METHODS
A literature search was conducted to trace relevant literature on integrated care for MS patients published between 1995 and 2003.


RESULTS
Although integrated care appears to offer potential for eliminating fragmentation and discontinuity in healthcare for MS patients, there are few published studies which have evaluated its implementation with MS patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Even though the potential advantages of integrated care are well known, the applicability of this approach for MS patients has still to be demonstrated.
Jansen
D E M C
DE
Department of Health Sciences, Northern Centre for Healthcare Research, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. d.e.m.c.jansen@med.umcg.nl
Krol
B
B
Groothoff
J W
JW
Post
D
D
D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*