title: Evolve and integrate: a new imperative for ambulatory care.
abstract: A highly evolved ambulatory care delivery system possesses four key attributes: high-quality care, exceptional levels of access, outstanding patient and staff satisfaction, and cost-effective delivery of care. Such a system seeks to ease management of the patient care continuum by delivering as many services as possible under one umbrella. High-quality, cost-effective care is achieved through improved care coordination and cost management, resulting from a tight connection between physicians and hospitals and between inpatient and outpatient settings. Improved access is an important means to improving patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Health Strategies & Solutions, Inc., Philadelphia, USA. tjohnson@hss-inc.com
authors.forename: Tracy K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borgos
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000191:economics; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive; D014481:United States