An integrated system of healthcare links hospital, physician, and other community-based providers, such as home healthcare and long term care, into one system and is key to the future for healthcare providers. The aim of this book is to address the roles and relationships between hospitals, physicians and other direct care providers, examine their existing and emerging activities, and how they fit together to create an integrated system of healthcare. It includes an exploration of how to align community care providers within an existing system, identification of key issues concerning antitrust, fraud and abuse, a guide to financial planning and pro forma development within two sample five year plans, and a summary of operational issues in specific integration strategies.