Sentence:  Other important functions performed by the GP [general practitioner] are those of referring patients to other (health) care facilities and acting as contact person for other providers of aid, both for other facilities in first <WSD>echelon</WSD> care and with respect to second <WSD>echelon</WSD> care (outpatient care and treatment in hospital). 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society.