Integrated care models aim to create a seamless and coordinated healthcare system that enhances patient outcomes and organizational efficiency by fostering collaboration among different healthcare providers.
The Basque Country, Catalonia, and the NHS in the United Kingdom are notable examples where integrated care has been successfully implemented. However, transitioning to an integrated care model comes with its own set of challenges, including cultural resistance, complex coordination, diverse IT systems, funding and resource allocation, regulatory barriers, skill gaps, and patient engagement issues. These hurdles must be carefully navigated for successful implementation.
Despite these challenges, evidence from international experiences demonstrates that integrated care models offer substantial benefits, such as:
• Improved patient outcomes are evident from the NHS’s Vanguard Program, which showed reductions in emergency admissions [1]
• Cost efficiencies are achieved by optimizing resource use and reducing redundancies, as seen in the Basque Country’s integrated care initiative [2]
• Catalonia’s integrated care system reported reductions in hospital admissions and shorter lengths of stay, freeing up capacity for other patients [3]
This workshop is designed to share these international experiences, delve into the challenges of implementing integrated care, and highlight the tangible benefits. By understanding the necessary skills and organizational changes required, participants will be equipped to start developing a comprehensive roadmap for initiating integrated care within their own healthcare organizations. Engaging stakeholders, committing to skill development, and leveraging best practices will pave the way for a successful transformation towards integrated care.
Regarding this context we aim to achieve the following outcomes and call to action:
• Provide an overview of the necessary skills and organizational changes needed to implement an effective integrated care model in the healthcare organizations, by sharing international experiences and success stories in integrated care, with a focus on the Basque Country, Catalonia model and/or UK NHS.
• Identify the key skills needed by the management and healthcare teams for successful integration, helping them to develop a toolkit and design roadmap outlining the steps required to start the integration journey in participants' own organizations.
Call to Action:
• Commit to developing the essential skills for integrated care, engage key stakeholders, and create a detailed roadmap, drawing inspiration and best practices from international success stories, to begin the transformation of the healthcare organizations

References:
[1] Morciano M, Checkland K, Billings J, Coleman A, Stokes J, Tallack C, Sutton M. New integrated care models in England associated with small reduction in hospital admissions in longer-term: A difference-in-differences analysis. Health Policy. 2020 Aug;124(8):826-833.
[2] Polanco NT, Zabalegui IB, Irazusta IP, Solinís RN, Del Río Cámara M. Building integrated care systems: a case study of Bidasoa Integrated Health Organisation. Int J Integr Care. 2015 Jun 24;15:e026.
[3] Contel JC, Ledesma A, Blay C, Mestre AG, Cabezas C, Puigdollers M, Zara C, Amil P, Sarquella E, Constante C. Chronic and integrated care in Catalonia. Int J Integr Care. 2015 Jun 29;15:e025.