A model linking the integration of
health and related services to improved clinical
and functional outcomes
John McLennan & Ellie Deveau
Background
It is not a given that the integration of various
health and related services (e.g., social, mental
health, education) leads to improved clinical and/or
functional outcomes for children and their families.
The following model outlines how service integration
could potentially lead to improved clinical and
functional outcomes. Mapping out proposed causal
pathways between service integration efforts and
improved outcomes could identify points where the
connection may break down. Attending to these critical
points in the pathways could guide service integration
efforts to increase the likelihood of improving
clinical or functional outcomes for children and
their families.
The Model
A first step is to divide into two components
the overall question,
" How can service integration lead to improved clinical or functional outcomes?"
How can a change in direct services improve
outcomes?
(See Figure 1)
How can service integration lead to a change
(or changes) in direct services?
(See Figure 1A, 1B and 1C)
