THE INTEGRATION PROCESS

The Integration Process

The Integration Process

There is a strong trend in the Veterans Health Administration? as well as in the private sector? to integrate health care facilities. Within VA? 40 hospitals have been approved for integration into 19 systems since early 1995. The objective of this multi-year study is to analyze 14 VHA integrations to assess their structure? planning and implementation process? and effects (Wakefield 2004).

This paper presents the results of the first year of analysis. The paper examines 1) the characteristics of the integrating facilities and the effects of those characteristics on the integration process and structure; 2) ...