Creating Health with Integrated Care: Recap from NACIC24
Building trust. Fostering authentic partnerships. Transforming healthcare together. Focusing on community-enabled health and wellbeing. These themes resonated throughout the North American Conference on Integrated Care (NACIC24), held in Calgary, Canada from October 15-17, 2024. The conference brought together a diverse community of voices – health and social care policy makers, funders, leaders, researchers, clinicians, patients, caregivers, and community representatives - all united in their commitment to reshaping how we approach health and care.
The conference centered on three key themes: Human-level transformation for collective impact, Community-enabled population health and wellbeing, and Integrated teams and systems. These were underpinned by three cross-cutting themes of co-design in equal partnership with community members, creating a strong sense of belonging, and ensuring a learning health system approach.
Co-hosted by the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC), IFIC Canada, the North America Centre for Integrated Care (NACIC), the International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) and the Health System Performance Network (HSPN), NACIC24 created a unique space for sharing diverse perspectives on healthcare transformation. The conference was supported by Health Standards Organization (HSO) and Accreditation Canada.
Human-Level Transformation for Collective Impact
"The mindset shift required to move our health and care systems from disarray to high performing ecosystems that behave more like dynamic economies, rich with innovation and value... requires high levels of trust, massive collaboration, and new ways of thinking." - Georgina Black, Managing Partner, Government & Public Services for Deloitte Canada
Throughout the conference, a clear message emerged: 'change happens at the speed of trust'. This insight underscores how meaningful healthcare transformation requires authentic partnerships that go beyond traditional clinical interactions. These relationships take time to cultivate but are fundamental to creating safer, more inclusive healthcare environments, leading to better care and better outcomes.
At NACIC24, the voices of those with lived experience were woven into nearly every session. Family caregivers were recognized as essential partners, with sessions emphasizing their integral role in care teams.
Senior physicians and healthcare leaders from across Canada championed the shift from purely biomedical to relational practice, acknowledging that making care truly person-centered requires radically different ways of thinking. Leadership emerged as a critical factor, with presentations exploring how system-wide governance and shared values can drive meaningful change. When healthcare teams, patients, families, and communities work together as true partners, they create environments where everyone feels safe, valued, and understood.
Community-Enabled Population Health and Wellbeing
"How can community-enabled health help us solve these problems? Because health and wellness begin in community. And these broader issues that are challenging our social cohesion, our democracy, and the way our communities are thriving are directly impacting ultimately people's wellness and then their health." - Katharine Smart, Former President, Canadian Medical Association, during a keynote session with Alika Lafontaine, Founder of Ekwa Insights and also a Former President of the Canadian Medical Association
NACIC24 highlighted how communities are becoming active partners in designing and delivering care. Sessions explored how cultural responsiveness and community leadership can address health disparities and build trust in healthcare systems. Presentations showcased innovative approaches to connecting local resources, from social prescribing programs to initiatives that bring healthcare providers and community organizations together.
The discussion on Community-Enabled Population Health and Wellbeing featured perspectives from municipal leaders and public health experts. City Councillor Evan Spencer highlighted municipalities as 'the leading tip of the spear' for community health initiatives, noting that municipalities are ultimately in the frontlines of all of the outcomes. The panel explored how local governments can create the conditions for community health through neighborhood-level engagement and resource allocation. Public health approaches were also emphasized, with speakers discussing the shift from reactive treatment to proactive wellness promotion and the importance of addressing social determinants of health at the community level, including housing, food security, transportation, and social connection.
Participants discussed ways to create spaces where different perspectives are valued, leading to healthcare approaches that better reflect community experiences. The focus was on building resilient communities and creating new alliances that empower populations to shape their own health outcomes.
Integrated Teams and Systems
"Integration is the only way forward in the face of ongoing challenges and in inequities in our health systems. The importance of creativity, of collaboration and of thinking differently has never been more vital." - Leslie Thompson, CEO of Accreditation Canada and Health Standards Organization
The conference explored the complexities of healthcare system design, focusing on workforce dynamics, digital innovations, and new approaches to care coordination. Speakers acknowledged that while team-based care has proven to enable the quintuple aim of better health outcomes, improved patient experience, enhanced provider experience, reduced costs, and advancement of health equity, implementation remains in pockets across Canada. The need to scale these successful models emerged as a critical priority.
Presentations highlighted how teams can be reimagined to optimize care delivery and empower individuals as active partners in their health journey, always keeping the human connection at the center of technological and structural innovations. The concept of 'relational reciprocity' – where team members work together through mutual benefit and obligation – emerged as a foundational principle for building trust and producing efficiency in healthcare teams.
Digital health and interprofessional collaboration emerged as key enablers of integrated care. Participants learned about innovative approaches to breaking down traditional healthcare silos, creating more flexible and responsive care teams that can address complex community needs.
Continuing the Conversation
NACIC24 revealed the power of the health and social care community that is being mobilized in Canada and who are increasingly aligned around the principles of authentic engagement, community leadership, and integrated care as an enabler for population health and wellbeing. The conference demonstrated that when we create spaces for genuine collaboration and shared learning, we strengthen the movement for improvement that enables healthcare transformation.
As we look to the future, the connections forged and growing at an accelerated rate, and insights shared will continue to influence this work. The enthusiasm and shared commitment suggest that the movement toward truly integrated, people-centered care is gaining momentum across North America and beyond. The presence of the Network for Integrated Care Excellence (NICE) and other national organizations signals a growing recognition of integrated care's importance in reimagining healthcare systems that truly serve communities.
The challenge now is to maintain this momentum – to continue building trust, fostering relationships, and creating the enabling conditions for integrated care to flourish. As one participant noted in the closing session: 'Integration starts from the grassroots level and then the top catches up.' This grassroots energy was palpable throughout NACIC24 and will be the driving force for change in the years ahead.
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Read more Conference Reflections:
The impact of NACIC24 continues to ripple through the integrated care community, with numerous attendees sharing their personal insights and takeaways on the IFIC Canada blog. From patient partners who found a "global community of belonging" to healthcare leaders celebrating vibrant professional connections, these reflections capture diverse perspectives and transformative experiences while echoing themes of trust, relationships, and community empowerment. Together, they demonstrate how NACIC24 served as a catalyst for healthcare transformation.
- NACIC24 – A Celebration of Integrated Care – Richard Lewanchuk
- Navigating Complexity in Healthcare: Building Trust Through Relational Reciprocity – Brenda Reiss-Brennan
- Closing The Gap- What Action Will You Take to Achieve Integrated Care - Claudine Cousins