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Study topic:
Comprehensive case study of Canterbury’s health system transformation towards integrated care, including HealthPathways, alliance contracting, and community-based service redesign.

Study type:
Qualitative case study with performance data analysis

Key findings:

• The Canterbury District Health Board implemented a major integration strategy following the 2010–11 earthquakes, shifting from reactive, hospital-centred care to a more proactive, community-based system.
• Innovations included the development of the Canterbury Clinical Network, HealthPathways, and the “One System, One Budget” approach aligning financial incentives across providers.
• A key achievement was the reduction in acute medical bed days and improved hospital flow without additional hospital capacity, attributed to initiatives like restorative home care and supported discharge programmes.
• General practitioners were central to the reform, supported through tools like HealthPathways, which standardised care and facilitated appropriate referrals.
• HealthPathways was highlighted as a core enabler of Canterbury’s integration efforts, providing accessible, locally agreed clinical guidance and fostering collaboration between primary and secondary care.