title: Towards a taxonomy for integrated care: a mixed-methods study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Building integrated services in a primary care setting is considered an essential important strategy for establishing a high-quality and affordable health care system. The theoretical foundations of such integrated service models are described by the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care, which distinguishes six integration dimensions (clinical, professional, organisational, system, functional and normative integration). The aim of the present study is to refine the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care by developing a taxonomy that specifies the underlying key features of the six dimensions.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, a literature review was conducted to identify features for achieving integrated service delivery. Second, a thematic analysis method was used to develop a taxonomy of key features organised into the dimensions of the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care. Finally, the appropriateness of the key features was tested in a Delphi study among Dutch experts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The taxonomy consists of 59 key features distributed across the six integration dimensions of the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care. Key features associated with the clinical, professional, organisational and normative dimensions were considered appropriate by the experts. Key features linked to the functional and system dimensions were considered less appropriate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study contributes to the ongoing debate of defining the concept and typology of integrated care. This taxonomy provides a development agenda for establishing an accepted scientific framework of integrated care from an end-user, professional, managerial and policy perspective.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Centre for Care and Welfare (Tranzo), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pim P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Valentijn
authors.affiliation: The Netherlands Expert Centre Integrated Primary Care, Jan van Es Institute, Almere, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Inge C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Boesveld
authors.affiliation: TNO, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Denise M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: van der Klauw
authors.affiliation: Public Health and Health Care Innovation, Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruwaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Quality of Care and Health Economics, Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeroen N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Struijs
authors.affiliation: TNO, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johanna J W
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Molema
authors.affiliation: The Netherlands Expert Centre Integrated Primary Care, Jan van Es Institute, Almere, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bruijnzeels
authors.affiliation: Chronic Care, Scientific Centre for Care and Welfare (Tranzo), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hubertus Jm
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Vrijhoef
keywords: Delphi study; classification; coordinated care; integrated care; literature review; primary care; taxonomy