Care coordination ‘the deliberate organisation of patient care activities between two or more participants involved in a patient’s care to facilitate the appropriate delivery of healthcare services’[1]
Care coordination covers the following aspects
- Person centred care planning (including assessment, development of care plan, monitoring and review)
- Self-management support
- Liaising with care providers/stakeholders
- Working with a team
- Compliance/quality management
Target for Care Co-ordination
Coordination of care is needed for people with chronic health conditions and complex health needs, those who access multiple providers for care, those at risk of frequent hospitalisation and people who are experiencing multiple factors – social, environmental, financial and cultural – impacting on their health. [2] It improves quality of care and outcomes across health care settings.[3]
Benefits of Care Coordination
The Tasmanian Primary Health Network says, “The benefits of care coordination extend not only to the people in need, but to all parts of the health and community services sector.” Benefits can include;
- improvement to the person’s wellbeing
- increased satisfaction and improved outcomes for the person
- strengthened person and family health literacy
- timely and appropriate access to primary healthcare services
- increased effective healthcare consumption – for example, increased use of primary healthcare services and after-hours services as well as decreased use of acute sector-based emergency services.”[4]
Some of the practical skills for Care Coordination are discussed in navigating the health system which covers health literacy and chronic condition management.
Care Coordination is explored in depth in the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course Module 12b Care Coordination.
[1] Erin F Taylor, Timothy Lake, Jessica Nysenbaum, Greg Peterson and David Meyers, “Coordinating care in the medical neighbourhood: critical components and available mechanisms. White Paper” AHRQ Publication, 11-0064. Rockville, ( June 2011).
[2] Primary Health Tasmania: “Care Coordination”, 2019, http://www.carecoordination.com.au/care-coordination/about-care-coordination &
Health Victoria: “Care Coordination”, 2020, https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/patient-care/rehabilitation-complex-care/health-independence-program/care-coordination
[3] American Nurses Association, Care Coordination and Registered Nurses’ Essential Role, (2012).
[4] Primary Health Tasmania: “Care Coordination”, 2019, http://www.carecoordination.com.au/care-coordination/about-care-coordination