Facilitating mechanisms for integrating care to promote health equity across the life course: reflections from social work trainees

• Published in: Social work in health care Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 60 - 74
• Main Authors: Reno, Rebecca, Beaujolais, Brieanne, Davis, Tamara S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 02.01.2019; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Adult; Behavioral health; behavioral medicine; Fairness; Female; Focus Groups; Health disparities; Health Equity - organization & administration; Health promotion; Health services; Humans; Integrated care; Life course; life course perspective; Male; Mental Health Services - organization & administration; Organizational structure; Patient Care Team - organization & administration; Personality; primary health care; Primary Health Care - organization & administration; Professional Competence; Professional practice; Professional training; Qualitative Research; Safety-net Providers; Social work; Social Work - education; Social Work - organization & administration; Socioeconomic Factors; Systems Integration; Trainees; Young Adult; primary health care; Behavioral health; Integrated care; behavioral medicine; life course perspective
• ISSN: 0098-1389; 1541-034X
• DOI: 10.1080/00981389.2018.1531105

Integrated care is a promising practice to promote health equity and improve population health across the life course, but the mechanisms needed to integrate services remain nebulous. This study aimed to identify the components required to achieve a fully integrated health care system as articulated by social work trainees. The authors conducted five focus groups (N = 20). Transcripts were analyzed using structural and pattern coding. Three primary themes emerged: Organizational Structure and Support, Personal and Interpersonal Dynamics, and Practitioner Knowledge. Results from this study can inform the process of integration and has implications for social work education.