What characterizes an integrated delivery system?

An integrated delivery system is characterized by its comprehensive approach to health care by encompassing a variety of health care organizations and services. This integration means that the system includes hospitals, outpatient services, specialized care, primary care providers, and sometimes even long-term care facilities, all working together to provide coordinated care to patients. The goal is to streamline care delivery, improve patient outcomes, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs by fostering collaboration among different providers.

In contrast to other options, limiting the system to only senior care facilities would not reflect the diversity and comprehensiveness of an integrated delivery system. Focusing solely on outpatient care ignores the critical role that inpatient and other types of care play in a fully integrated approach. Finally, restricting the system to a single type of provider would prevent the collaboration necessary for effective integrated care, which relies on a range of services and expertise working together for the benefit of the patient. Thus, the defining feature of an integrated delivery system is its inclusion of various types of health care organizations working in synergy.