Integrated care is a growing field that requires clear conceptual definitions to advance theory and practice. This paper explores the meaning, logic, applications, and implications of integrated care, emphasizing the need for a patient-centered approach. Integrated care is often used to mean different things, such as managed care in the US, shared care in the UK, and transmural care in the Netherlands. However, there is a lack of conceptual clarity, which hinders its development. The term "integrated care" is crucial for communication in health care, as it influences how we think about, shape, deliver, manage, regulate, finance, and evaluate health care. The paper discusses the meaning and logic of integration, noting that it is central to systems theory and organizational design. Integration involves bringing together separate components to achieve common goals and optimal results. The paper also presents a patient-centric view of integrated care, emphasizing the unique needs of individuals with chronic illnesses and complex conditions. These individuals often require a mix of services delivered by multiple providers, and integrated care aims to enhance quality of care, patient satisfaction, and system efficiency. The paper suggests that integrated care is a coherent set of methods and models designed to create connectivity, alignment, and collaboration within and between the cure and care sectors. Practical applications of integrated care include strategies for funding, administrative, organizational, service delivery, and clinical levels. These strategies aim to improve efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and the overall quality of care. The paper also discusses the implications of integrated care, including the need for a consensus on definitions, boundaries, and terminology to advance the field. Integrated care is a complex and multifaceted concept that requires a clear understanding of its meaning and applications. The paper highlights the importance of patient-centered approaches and the need for ongoing research and evaluation to ensure the effectiveness of integrated care models. The goal is to stimulate dialogue and debate to develop a more comprehensive and effective integrated care system.Integrated care is a growing field that requires clear conceptual definitions to advance theory and practice. This paper explores the meaning, logic, applications, and implications of integrated care, emphasizing the need for a patient-centered approach. Integrated care is often used to mean different things, such as managed care in the US, shared care in the UK, and transmural care in the Netherlands. However, there is a lack of conceptual clarity, which hinders its development. The term "integrated care" is crucial for communication in health care, as it influences how we think about, shape, deliver, manage, regulate, finance, and evaluate health care. The paper discusses the meaning and logic of integration, noting that it is central to systems theory and organizational design. Integration involves bringing together separate components to achieve common goals and optimal results. The paper also presents a patient-centric view of integrated care, emphasizing the unique needs of individuals with chronic illnesses and complex conditions. These individuals often require a mix of services delivered by multiple providers, and integrated care aims to enhance quality of care, patient satisfaction, and system efficiency. The paper suggests that integrated care is a coherent set of methods and models designed to create connectivity, alignment, and collaboration within and between the cure and care sectors. Practical applications of integrated care include strategies for funding, administrative, organizational, service delivery, and clinical levels. These strategies aim to improve efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and the overall quality of care. The paper also discusses the implications of integrated care, including the need for a consensus on definitions, boundaries, and terminology to advance the field. Integrated care is a complex and multifaceted concept that requires a clear understanding of its meaning and applications. The paper highlights the importance of patient-centered approaches and the need for ongoing research and evaluation to ensure the effectiveness of integrated care models. The goal is to stimulate dialogue and debate to develop a more comprehensive and effective integrated care system.