Program Collaboration Service Integration

Overview

Program collaboration and service integration (PCSI) is a public health approach through which public health programs and partners collaborate to organize and blend interrelated activities and services for those in need, thus improving public health outcomes.

Goals

The National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) aims to improve effectiveness and efficiency of funded prevention and control programs, with shared capacity that can be used across programs. NCHHSTP will support and promote better collaboration across divisions in design and implementation of surveillance, research, communication, and prevention programs to support service integration and to utilize Center and partner resources most effectively. NCHHSTP will look broadly across its programs, and work with our partners, to discover new and innovative ways to collaborate and use resources wisely and efficiently, taking advantage of multiple disciplines and shared knowledge and promoting holistic approaches to health protection.

Definitions

Program collaboration and service integration

A mechanism for organizing and blending interrelated health issues, activities, and prevention strategies to facilitate comprehensive delivery of services.

Program collaboration

A mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship entered into by two or more programs, organizations, or organizational units to achieve common goals. The collaborative relationship usually includes a commitment to mutual relationships and goals, a jointly developed structure, shared responsibility, mutual authority and accountability for success, and sharing of resources and rewards.

Service integration

A distinct method of service delivery that provides persons with seamless services from multiple programs or areas within programs with­out repeated registration procedures, waiting period or other administrative barriers. It differs from system coordination, in which services from multiple agencies are provided but persons may have to visit different locations and register separately for each agency's programs to obtain these services.

Levels of service integration:

• Nonintegrated Services (Level 1): Prevention, treatment, or care services provided for a single condition (HIV, viral hepatitis, STD, or TB) by a single program.
• Core Integrated Services (Level 2): Integration of two or more CDC-recommended prevention, treatment or care services across HIV, STD, viral hepatitis, or TB infections.
• Expanded Integrated Services (Level 3): Integration of multiple prevention, treat­ment, and care services for HIV, viral hepatitis, STD, and TB into general health and social services. CDC guidelines, standards, or recommendations for the delivery of these services may or may not exist.

Syndemics

Population-level clustering of social and health problems.