Integrated care initiatives in the Spanish Health System/Experiencias de integración asistencial en el Sistema Nacional de Salud de España

s from the Third Spanish Conference on Chronic Care, San Sebastián, 19–20 May 2011/Resúmenes de Comunicaciones al III Congreso Nacional de Atención Sanitaria al Paciente Crónico, Donostia-San Sebastián, 19 y 20 de mayo del 2011 Roberto Nuño, O+Berri, Basque Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Spain Regina Sauto, O+Berri, Basque Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Spain Nuria Toro, O+Berri, Basque Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Spain Correspondence to: Roberto Nuño, O+Berri, Basque Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Solinis Plaza de Asua, 1, 48950 Sondika (Bizkaia), Spain. Phone: (+34) 94.453.85.00/94.453.67.68. www.bioef.org, Email: [email protected] In developed countries, the evolution of medicine, technology and social protection has led to the development of complex health systems with multiple specialised healthcare providers, often working as separate islands. The Spanish health system is no exception. There is a consensus that fragmentation of healthcare services particularly hampers the quality of care provided to chronic patients, who often require care from different types of professionals and specialists, as well as a long-term relationship with the healthcare system. Indeed, it can be argued that integrated care is particularly relevant to chronic patients and those with multiple conditions, who “bear the brunt of access, continuity, fragmentation and quality problems found in all health systems” [1]. With the growing epidemic of chronic diseases, which already represent the main burden of disease and are responsible for most interactions with healthcare providers in developed countries [2–5], improving the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of the care provided to chronic patients has become one of the major challenges for health systems. In this context, the annual Spanish Conference on Chronic Care grew out of an interest in sharing experiences, knowledge and views on innovative approaches and initiatives in the prevention and management of chronic diseases, among healthcare experts, managers, clinicians and policy makers in the field. As in previous years, during the Third Spanish Conference on Chronic Care, “continuity of care” and “integrated care” were recurring topics, and recognised as key for the improvement of care for chronic patients. On this occasion, the conference, held in San Sebastian in May 2011, was organised by the Basque Institute for Healthcare Innovation (O+Berri) and the Basque Health Service (Osakidetza), with the support of the Department of Health and Consumer Affairs of the Basque Government. The present supplement includes a selection of 19 abstracts chosen from among the oral presentations and posters on interventions, projects and studies on healthcare coordination and integrated care presented at the