Integrated primary care

The delivery of medical and health-related services tends to be compartmentalized and fragmented. If the goal is health and if an important part in achieving that goal is increasing the ability of the person, family, and community to care for themselves while providing cost-effective care, then it is imperative to integrate efforts across community and primary care arenas. The Southcentral Foundation is an Alaska Native organization focused on the delivery of community and primary care activities that continues to work at the challenges of integration and coordination. This paper discusses some of the efforts to date and hopes for the future.