Integrating health and social care delivery with the help of digital technologies is a grand challenge. We argue that previous attempts have largely failed to achieve their objectives because implementers and decision makers disregard the complex socio-organizational dimensions of change associated with initiatives. These include structural and organizational complexity inhibiting the development of shared care pathways; professional jurisdictions, interests, and expertise; and existing data and governance structures. We provide an overview of those dimensions that can inform strategic decisions going forward, thereby contributing to the chances of success of shared care initiatives.
Keywords: digital health; health care; healthcare; integrated care; shared care records; social care; socio-organizational; sociotechnical.
©Kathrin Cresswell, Stuart Anderson, Hajar Mozaffar, Andrey Elizondo, Marcia Geiger, Robin Williams. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 26.01.2023.