Copyright: This article is published in a peer reviewed section of the International Journal of Integrated Care 1 Editorial

Guest editorial note on integrated care pathways: a basic tool for Triple aim improvement of healthcare by collaborative local action The organization of the care process pursuing a Triple aim improvement of healthcare is a common interest of clinicians, healthcare managers and policy-makers in this period of financial shortage especially as part of Obamacare in the US [1]. The Triple aim is: 1) better perception of care by the patients e.g. by better clinical continuity, 2) better professional effectiveness e.g. by better planning and coordination of the whole patient pathway and at the same time 3) reducing or at least controlling the cost of care e.g. readmissions. Care pathways, clinical pathways or integrated care pathways have so far been used as synonymous terms for a ne