What role can education play in integrated care? Lessons from the ECHO (Extensions for Community Health Outcomes) Concussion program

Purpose Design, implementation, and evaluation are all important for integrated care. However, they miss one critical factor: education. The authors define “integrated care education” as meaningful learning that purposefully supports collaboration the development of adaptive expertise in ECHO (Extensions Community Health Outcomes) model is a novel digital health solution uses technology-enabled (TEL) to facilitate, support, Using Concussion case study, describe effects education on micro-, meso-, macro-dimensions Design/methodology/approach This study was constructed using data extracted from video-archived sessions, participant observation, internal program memos. research team met regularly discuss relevant themes dimensions Findings On micro-level, clinical integration occurs through case-based expertise. meso-level, professional achieved “specialist generalist,” networks empathy. Finally, macro-level, achieve vertical horizontal system delivery Vertical by educating connecting providers across sectors primary quaternary levels Horizontal establishment lateral peer-based result participation sessions with focus population-level health. Originality/value examines role program, Concussion. three macro-levels, this first explicit operationalization means delivering supporting delivery.