BEST PRACTICES IN MANAGING ORGANIZED DELIVERY SYSTEMS

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a large public-sector he althcare delivery system, is following the lead of the private sector in seeking a more integrated approach to providing patient care. The b elief is that new entities known as organized delivery systems (ODSs) will produce better; more cost-effective care. Toward this end, VA has reorganized its facilities into 22 networks. The purpose of this pape r is to provide VA policymakers and managers with information about bu ilding and managing an integrated delivery system for the nation's vet erans based on findings from the Health Systems Integration Study (HSI S).