Towards a Strategic Framework for Hospital-Community Integration: Evidence from Digital Health Platforms in the Greater Bay Area

The aging population and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases are creating a global imperative for integrated care models, yet the persistent divide between hospitals and community care continues to impede seamless patient journeys and efficient utilization of healthcare resources. Although digital health platforms are widely recognized as catalysts for integration, existing research predominantly emphasizes technological capabilities, often overlooking the necessity of a strategic framework that harnesses these platforms to orchestrate comprehensive service delivery. This consideration is particularly salient in complex, cross-border regions such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), where diverse institutional structures and regulatory environments add layers of operational complexity. This study employs a qualitative case study methodology, combining documentary analysis of GBA healthcare policies with a review of ongoing digital health initiatives to construct a strategic framework for integrated care. The analysis identifies three critical pillars for effective integration: interoperable data standards, aligned incentive structures, and patient-centric service design. Findings demonstrate that digital health platforms transcend their role as mere technological tools; they are central to reconfiguring care workflows, enabling data-driven decision-making, and facilitating collaboration between hospitals and community-based care providers. From an academic perspective, this research advances the service ecosystem framework, offering a novel model for digitally enabled healthcare integration in multi-jurisdictional contexts. Practically, it provides a strategic roadmap for policymakers and healthcare administrators in the GBA to develop resilient, efficient, and patient-focused integrated care systems that can adapt to the complexities of cross-border healthcare delivery.