Integración de ámbitos asistenciales

Integrated care is the term given to an organizational approach that attempts to interconnect the different agencies involved in treating a particular pathological condition by using a predefined protocol. The various healthcare providers are organized in a coherent, logical, and synchronized manner to ensure continuity of care. In recent years, different quality improvement initiatives, based on integrated disease management approaches, have been introduced into our specialty with the aim of improving both quality of care and communication between different specialists and primary care physicians involved in treating patients. This article describes an integrated multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of outpatients with heart failure that involves healthcare services at different levels and which is based on interventions by specialist nurses.