Open Table Philosophy: Establishment of the Integrated and End-of-Life Care Working Group in the Latin American Region

Background: A decisive step was taken in Latin America in April 2022 with the establishment of the IFIC LatAm center. Unlike other IFIC centers, IFIC LatAm faces the complexity of integrating researchers from multiple countries in the region, making it a regional rather than a country-specific center. To address this complexity, a philosophy of open dialogue was adopted, inviting professionals, work teams, or regional groups to join and create new working groups on topics that advance integrated, person-, family-, and community-centered care in Latin America.

Approach: IFIC LatAm focused on establishing an organizational structure with mechanisms enabling professionals, work teams, or regional groups to create new working groups on topics of integrated care relevant to the region. The creation of this organizational structure involved more than two years of continuous work, bringing together a diverse group of organizations and individuals committed to advancing integrated care across various Latin American contexts. This structure incorporates "working groups" to provide support to professionals, work teams, or regional groups interested in generating and disseminating knowledge on integrated care in the region.

Results: A working methodology has been established for forming working groups in Latin America through IFIC LatAm. This approach has already led to the creation of the first IFIC LatAm working group on integrated and end-of-life care, complete with an established roadmap and a sustainable work dynamic for continuity and strengthening.

Implications: This initiative has developed a strategy to unify Latin American efforts contributing to the advancement of integrated, person-, family-, and community-centered care in the region's complex landscape. It also positions itself as a replicable methodology for other entities to encourage the participation of professionals, work teams, or regional groups in integrated care topics. IFIC LatAm's next steps involve promoting the creation of additional working groups on relevant integrated care topics to generate and disseminate knowledge from the Latin American region.