Care Coordination Efforts Can Enhance the Collection of Evidence-Based Data

In order to guarantee that patients receive the proper care at the correct time and in the most suitable environment, care coordination is a method of delivering healthcare that includes planning and arranging healthcare resources and services. Therefore, the application of a growing PCMH model can enhance quality-of-care coordination efforts and increase the collection of evidence-based data.

Additionally, it is a primary care approach that offers patients complete, patient-centered treatment (Veet et al., 2020). It encourages care coordination, chronic illness management, and preventive treatment. It has been demonstrated that the PCMH approach raises patient happiness, lowers costs, and improves the quality of care. The five ways that care coordination initiatives can be implemented under the PCMH paradigm are as follows: 

1. First off, better patient data collection and administration may result from care coordination initiatives. Care teams can effectively and efficiently gather and manage patient data with the use of digital tools and electronic health records (EHRs), which results in quick and accurate diagnosis, treatment, and care management (Nembhard et al., 2020).
2. Second, a crucial component of the PCMH model is cooperation amongst various members of the care team. Care teams can reduce duplication of effort and share information and ideas, and make sure that everyone on the team is aware of the patient’s requirements and preferences by collaborating more closely (Charns et al., 2022).
3. Third, evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, and care management may be used more frequently as a result of care coordination initiatives. This guarantees that in order to give their patients the best care possible, care teams integrate the most recent research and industry best practices into their daily operations (Stockdale et al., 2021). 
4. Fourth, efficient care coordination can also improve patient participation and education initiatives. Involving patients in their own care and giving them the tools and information they need can help care teams improve patient outcomes and satisfaction (Simpson et al., 2022).
5. Last but not least, a PCMH model’s care coordination initiatives may result in improved population health management. Care teams can find trends and patterns that can guide public health programs and enhance the health of entire communities by monitoring patient data and outcomes (Daumit et al., 2019). Thus, using the PCMH model’s care coordination efforts can lead to greater public health and patient outcomes.

Conclusion

For hospitals to find ways to cut expenses without sacrificing the standard of patient care, cost analysis is essential. The spreadsheet listed four ways the hospital might save money: utilizing an energy-efficient HVAC system, lowering staff overtime hours, converting to LED lighting, and putting in place an electronic medical records system. By delivering integrated care, shortening hospital stays, and offering early interventions and preventative care, care coordination can save money.

Additionally, it can enhance health consumerism and patient outcomes by enabling patients to make knowledgeable healthcare decisions. By encouraging evidence-based procedures and lowering medical errors, care coordination can enhance data gathering and analysis.   All things considered, care coordination holds promise for reducing healthcare costs while enhancing patient outcomes; yet, it necessitates cooperation and efficient communication between healthcare providers as well as the right kind of infrastructure and resource investments.

References

Charns, M. P., Benzer, J. K., McIntosh, N. M., Mohr, D. C., Singer, S. J., & Gurewich, D. (2022). A Multi-site Case Study of Care Coordination Between Primary Care and Specialty Care. Medical Care, 60(5), 361–367. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000001704

Daumit, G. L., Stone, E. M., Kennedy-Hendricks, A., Choksy, S., Marsteller, J. A., & McGinty, E. E. (2019). Care Coordination and Population Health Management Strategies and Challenges in a Behavioral Health Home Model. Medical Care, 57(1), 79–84. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000001023

Nembhard, I. M., Buta, E., Lee, Y. S. H., Anderson, D., Zlateva, I., & Cleary, P. D. (2020). A quasi-experiment assessing the six-months effects of a nurse care coordination program on patient care experiences and clinician teamwork in community health centers. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 1&n