TY - JOUR
T1 - Levers for integrating social work into primary healthcare networks in Austria
AU - Kriegel, Johannes
AU - Rissbacher, Clemens
AU - Pölzl, Alois
AU - Tuttle Weidinger, Linda
AU - Reckwitz, Nanni
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2020/1
Y1 - 2020/1
N2 - Background: The integrated healthcare of patients with support needs in primary healthcare in Austria has insufficient structural and procedural features in terms of the quality and security of care. The aim is therefore to develop solution- and patient-oriented services that take into account both the patients’ requirements as well as the medical, nursing, therapeutic and economic perspectives. The question arises: What relevant levers can support the active participation of social work in the primary healthcare of patients with support needs in Austria? Methods: An adapted Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to investigate the levers for integrating social work into primary healthcare networks in Austria. In addition to a semi-structured literature search, subjective expert and user priorities were surveyed, cause-and-effect relationships were visualized, an extended cycle of success was developed and relevant control levers were identified by means of a pair comparison matrix and an effectiveness front. Results: This results in the targeted development and optimization of the complex integration of social work into primary healthcare in Austria, the relevant levers being the professionalization of social work, competences of social work, communication and cooperation of stakeholders. Conclusion: The identified levers have to be processed conceptually and operationally. For this purpose, an integrated concept has to be developed, which, in addition to innovative organizational instruments, includes special communication approaches as well as inter-professional process and knowledge management.
AB - Background: The integrated healthcare of patients with support needs in primary healthcare in Austria has insufficient structural and procedural features in terms of the quality and security of care. The aim is therefore to develop solution- and patient-oriented services that take into account both the patients’ requirements as well as the medical, nursing, therapeutic and economic perspectives. The question arises: What relevant levers can support the active participation of social work in the primary healthcare of patients with support needs in Austria? Methods: An adapted Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to investigate the levers for integrating social work into primary healthcare networks in Austria. In addition to a semi-structured literature search, subjective expert and user priorities were surveyed, cause-and-effect relationships were visualized, an extended cycle of success was developed and relevant control levers were identified by means of a pair comparison matrix and an effectiveness front. Results: This results in the targeted development and optimization of the complex integration of social work into primary healthcare in Austria, the relevant levers being the professionalization of social work, competences of social work, communication and cooperation of stakeholders. Conclusion: The identified levers have to be processed conceptually and operationally. For this purpose, an integrated concept has to be developed, which, in addition to innovative organizational instruments, includes special communication approaches as well as inter-professional process and knowledge management.
KW - Adapted analytic hierarchy process
KW - Coordination
KW - Primary healthcare
KW - Social work
KW - Success factors
KW - Primary Health Care/organization & administration
KW - Delivery of Health Care, Integrated
KW - Humans
KW - Organizational Innovation
KW - Stakeholder Participation
KW - Community Networks
KW - Austria
KW - Social Work/organization & administration
KW - Communication
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076227099&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.10.012
DO - 10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.10.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 31810579
SN - 0168-8510
VL - 124
SP - 75
EP - 82
JO - Health Policy
JF - Health Policy
IS - 1
ER -