Care coordination involves organizing patient care activities, sharing information among all practitioners involved in a patient's care, and helping patients navigate the healthcare system to receive recommended healthcare services. This process aims to achieve safer and more effective outcomes by ensuring patient needs and preferences are known and communicated on time to the right individuals, thus ensuring effective and high-quality care.
While some health organizations and practices have long implemented care coordination, others are just beginning to explore its potential. Recognizing its significant benefits for patients, staff, and the organization's bottom line is important, especially as the US healthcare system moves toward value-based payments.
What is Care Coordination’s Main Goal?
The main goal of care coordination is to meet patients' needs and preferences in delivering high-quality, high-value healthcare. Coordinated care is achieved through broad approaches that improve healthcare delivery and specific care coordination activities:
Broad Approaches: Teamwork, care navigation, care management, medication management, health information technology, and patient-centered medical homes.
Specific Activities: Establishing accountability, scheduling appointments, communicating knowledge, aiding transitions of care, assessing patient needs, creating proactive care plans, and monitoring and follow-up.
Why Is Care Coordination Important?
Care Coordination is critical for ensuring comprehensive, cohesive, and efficient patient care. It reduces the risk of errors, improves health outcomes, and avoids duplication of services. Effective Care Coordination is especially beneficial for patients with chronic conditions or complex healthcare needs, leading to integrated, personalized healthcare experiences and higher patient satisfaction.
When Does Care Need to Be Coordinated?
According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, There are several different points of contact in which care might need to be coordinated. That can include:
Following up after an emergency hospital visit.
Care between a patient's primary care provider and multiple specialists for a chronic health condition.
A temporary stay in a skilled nursing facility.
Healthcare providers coordinating with social services to help a patient with social determinants of health, such as housing, transportation or food.
Implementing Care Coordination with HealthHelper:
HealthHelper plays a crucial role in implementing Care Coordination. By leveraging technology and personalized patient care, HealthHelper facilitates seamless communication among healthcare providers and supports efficient appointment scheduling and patient care plan management. HealthHelper's analytics capabilities enable proactive response to patient needs, ensuring patient-centered, efficient, and high-quality healthcare services.
Embrace effective Care Coordination in your healthcare practice with HealthHelper. Contact us today to explore how our innovative solutions can enhance your care delivery and patient satisfaction.
Connect with HealthHelper and take the first step towards streamlined and patient-centered healthcare.
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