A Case Study Of North Texas Area Community Health Centers, Inc. And The Implementation Of Integrated Health Care

Abstract

The purpose of this case study was to examine the implementation process of an integrated health care model in a primary care setting that serves a primarily low-income, Latino population. The main unit of analysis was semi-structured interviews that were conducted with seven clinical and administrative staff members. Additional units of analysis included direct observations, the grant application for the program, clinic reports and other related documents. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze the interviews. The results indicated that adequate training and preparation, buy-in from key personnel, possible communication barriers, tools for systematic follow-up and measurement, and organizational stability can greatly affect the implementation of an integrated health care model. Further research will need to be conducted to understand how challenges in implementation may affect health outcomes for patients.