Care Coordination

Care Coordination

Care coordination is an emerging and complex field in the health care system because of the growing number of providers, the various settings of care, and the numerous methods of delivering care. Hospitals are implementing several interventions to address gaps in care coordination, such as enhanced systems of communication, information technology, and personnel resourcing. This assessment provides an opportunity for you to complete a comprehensive needs assessment.

In the 2000 report To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System, the Institute of Medicine identified collaborative communication and the reduction of medical errors as top priorities to improve the quality and safety of patient care. In response to this, the National Quality Forum (NQF), a nonprofit organization that works to catalyze improvements in health care, identified care coordination as an important national strategy to improve patient safety and quality of care delivery.

Coordination of care supports patient safety and quality and is a recognized professional standard shared by registered nurses regardless of their practice settings. Whether educating a patient about his or her medication and plan of care or reviewing follow-up care, nurses are essential in facilitating the continuity of care for all patients. Historically, nurses have engaged in coordinating care for every one of their patients. As the landscape of health care evolves, so does care coordination.

Reference

Institute of Medicine. (2000). To err is human: Building a safer health system. National Academies Press.