Opportunities for Collaboration and Integration

A network can be at various stages of collaborating, sharing and integrating within functional areas. In different marketplaces, issues such as demand and levels of managed care, composition of collaborators, and/or unique health care delivery characteristics will impact the functions and composition of the network. Networks should assess their respective environment and the infrastructure of their constituent members to determine the most appropriate mix of functional activities.

For the purposes of the subsequent charts and spreadsheets in this document, the following definitions are used:

“Core Area” – Core area encompasses one of the following: administrative, clinical, managed care, fiscal, and information systems. Networks can be engaged in activities around all of the core areas as long as they are appropriate to the respective marketplaces and the available infrastructure and resources.

“Functions” – A function is identified as a specific activity within one of the core areas as defined above. For example, within the core area of clinical activities, a function may include the sharing of common clinical protocols and guidelines among collaborators; within the core area of administration, a function may include centralization of human resources across the network. Networks can be engaged in a number of functions within a core area(s) as long as they are appropriate to the respective marketplaces and the available infrastructure and resources.

“Collaborating,” “Collaborative” – To work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort

“Sharing,” “Shared” – A part or portion belonging to, distributed to, contributed by or owned by a person or group

“Integrating” “Integrated” – To make into a whole by bringing all parts together; to join with something else