title: The French Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology position paper on the concept of integration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The concept of integration, although dating from the 1990s, has only recently appeared in French public health policy. It must be linked with 'coordination', which is the base of most French public policies applied to geriatrics since the 1960s. Herein, we report the French Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology working group's findings according to three axes: definition of integration, objectives of this organisational approach and the means needed to achieve them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Integration is a process that aims to overcome the fragmentation of services for vulnerable people. This process requires a multilevel approach, particularly concerning how to modify public policies and financing systems. Notably, all relevant levels need to develop shared processes, tools, resources, financing, interventions and action-reports on the latter. Integration must be accompanied by a local dedicated professional (the 'pilot'). Results of recent experiments showed that it is possible to implement integrative dynamics in France.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Université de Rennes 1, CHU de Rennes, La Tauvrais, rue de La Tauvrais, 35033 Rennes Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Somme
authors.affiliation: Fondation Nationale de Gérontologie, 49, rue Mirabeau 75016, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Trouvé
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Centre Hospitalier Mulhouse, 87, avenue d'Altkirch, BP 1070, 68051 Mulhouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Passadori
authors.affiliation: ARS Languedoc-Roussillon, Parc-Club du Millénaire, 1025, rue Henri-Becquerel, CS 30001, 34067 Montpellier Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corvez
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Université de Montpellier 1, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Centre Antonin-Balmès, Avenue Charles-Flahault, 34295 Montpellier Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jeandel
authors.affiliation: Research and Educational Innovation, École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique, Rennes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, équipe Management des Organisations en Santé (MOS), avenue du Professeur-Léon-Bernard, CS 74312-35043 Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Aline
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.affiliation: Délégation Générale de la SFGG, 60, rue des Cherchevets, 92150 Suresnes, France.
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruault
authors.affiliation: Fondation Condé, Place Maurice-Versepuy, 60500 Chantilly.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.affiliation: Université de Versailles-Saint-Quentin, Laboratoire Santé Environnement Vieillissement, EA 2506.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Stampa
keywords: definition; geriatrics; integration; position paper