K. Viktoria Stein

In a recent article by Michgelsen et al. (2025) [1], a key insight emerged from a decade of research published in the International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC): while the ambition to co-produce integrated care with people is widely stated, the reality often reflects a top-down approach of integrated care onto individuals. This discrepancy is not limited to practice and policy—it permeates the research landscape as well.

The predecessor of IFIC (International Foundation for Integrated Care) was founded in 2000, and since that date the network advocating for Integrated Care (IC) has grown to a global movement for change. In recent years, the concept of Population Health Management (PHM) has come up using similar terminology and aspiring well-known outcomes. As both concepts continue to gain traction with policy makers and practitioners, the question of similarity and difference has arisen in research and practice.