A publication from the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut on care coordination as a means of improving children’s access to health services. Learn more at www.chdi.org.

Introduction

Policy makers, patients, providers and researchers recognize the value of care coordination in ensuring the most effective and efficient delivery of health services as
well as the linkage of health to other service sectors. Care coordination helps patients access and use services by providing them assistance with scheduling, transportation, and synchronization of recommendations across different providers and settings. Health care providers also benefit from care coordination provided to their patients.
Providers often are unaware of the many services that exist for their patients and do not have time to make phone calls, arrange appointments and assist patients with accessing services. Care coordinators can do this for them and provide a valuable service to families. The concept of medical home, which describes care that is accessible, coordinated, family-centered, culturally competent and serves as a usual source of care, requires coordinated care for linking patients to services that the medical home itself does not provide.

Presented during the January 17, 2013 Help Me Grow Care Coordination Webinar.