Healthcare integration: the study of the toronto central regional hospice palliative care "system" and its integration challenges.

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's End-of-Life strategy did not result in integrated hospice palliative care (HPC) systems. Consequently, HPC has evolved differently across the 14 local health integration networks. In the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network, the HPC sector lacks foundational systems integration elements: infrastructure and tools that can ensure optimal access and delivery; centralized data capture and management resources to support delivery and planning; and central planning and performance authority that will further improvements in systems delivery, planning and accountability. The sector has been able to function because of inter-organizational initiatives and system linkage tools.