Abstract
Background: In the face of growing healthcare complexities, evaluating integrated care is a critical yet often challenging task with limited agreement on effective implementation methods, despite the rapid global expansion of integrated care initiatives demanding rigorous yet feasible assessment approaches.
Purpose: This poster presents real-world experiences—both successes and setbacks—from integrated care evaluation initiatives in Ontario and Australia, highlighting practical strategies, implementation challenges, and innovative approaches to strengthen evaluation processes across diverse healthcare settings.
Target Audience: Researchers conducting or considering integrated care evaluation, practitioners implementing integrated care models, health system planners, and decision makers engaged with evaluation processes who seek practical guidance on navigating the complexities of measuring outcomes in interconnected care systems.
Key Content: Current state of evaluation in integrated care, including established and emerging frameworks with their respective strengths and limitations
Case studies from Ontario, Canada and Australia demonstrating integration of evaluation into care system design, with particular focus on governance structures, data infrastructure, and stakeholder engagement
Strategies for evaluating implementation across different healthcare contexts
Expected Outcomes: This work aims to demystify integrated care evaluation by offering valuable frameworks, tools, and best practices derived from cross-jurisdictional experiences. We are compiling comprehensive case studies that provide actionable strategies and evidence-based guidance on what to stop, start, or continue to ensure comparative evaluations are possible. The findings emphasize the importance of contextual adaptation while maintaining methodological rigor, particularly through international cross-country collaboration that accounts for varying healthcare system structures.
Future Directions: Building on this initial analysis, we are developing a toolkit for integrated care evaluators that incorporates lessons learned from multiple jurisdictions and provides templates for evaluation planning, implementation, and reporting. Additionally, we aim to establish a community of practice for ongoing knowledge exchange among integrated care evaluators to continuously refine methodologies and address emerging challenges in this evolving field.