Redefining healthcare infrastructure: Moving toward integrated solutions

Currently in the United Kingdom there is a trend to broaden the scope of service provision in the healthcare sector. Not only are new healthcare-related services being provided to the community, but also there is increasing concern for providing services to extend the life cycle of built facilities. This trend is similar to what has been observed in manufacturing, where different approaches are used to combine products and services, generating high-value integrated solutions. This article analyzes integrated-solution approaches that have been adopted in the manufacturing sector and compares them to trends that are emerging in the healthcare sector. The practical implications of these trends in the UK healthcare sector are also pointed out. This study discusses how to improve value generation by combining products and services; it also addresses the need for a value-creating system that is capable of developing and sustaining new healthcare infrastructures. Some of the major changes needed to achieve fully integrated solutions in healthcare-such as supporting policies for innovation and stakeholder engagement-are pointed out. However, understanding the theoretical concept behind such approaches (and thus how value can be generated) and the challenges associated with introducing them into practice seem to be the first steps toward achieving integrated solutions in the healthcare context.