How is APRN care coordination evaluated for effectiveness?

Posted: February 25th, 2023

How is APRN care coordination evaluated for effectiveness? Do you believe that the current system works or do you feel that care coordination is disjointed in the United States, and why? What are common problems of care coordination that you have researched or experienced in your current workplace?
APRN care coordination can be evaluated for effectiveness through a variety of measures, including patient outcomes, healthcare utilization, and patient satisfaction. Patient outcomes may include improvements in chronic disease management, reductions in hospital readmissions, and improvements in functional status. Healthcare utilization may include reductions in emergency department visits or hospitalizations, as well as increases in appropriate use of preventive services. Patient satisfaction may be measured through surveys or other feedback mechanisms.

In terms of the current system of care coordination in the United States, there are certainly areas for improvement. Care coordination is often disjointed due to a lack of communication and collaboration among healthcare providers, as well as inadequate sharing of patient information across healthcare settings. This can result in fragmented care that may not meet the needs of the patient.

Some common problems of care coordination that have been researched or experienced in the workplace include:

Lack of communication and collaboration among healthcare providers, leading to disjointed care and missed opportunities for preventive care.

Inadequate sharing of patient information across healthcare settings, resulting in duplicative tests, medication errors, and other adverse events.

Fragmented payment systems that may create disincentives for providers to coordinate care, leading to unnecessary healthcare utilization and increased costs.

Limited access to health services in certain communities, particularly those in rural or underserved areas, which can create challenges for patients in coordinating care.

While there are certainly challenges to effective care coordination, there are also many initiatives underway to improve the system, such as the implementation of electronic health records, the promotion of team-based care models, and the development of payment reforms that incentivize high-quality, coordinated care.