Care Coordination in Nursing

Introduction
Today we will learn how to coordinate care in our community with this presentation, allowing us to understand our roles as nurses better and help us improve patient outcomes. I will discuss the concept of coordination of care and the role ethics plays. The key is to use a collaborative method that brings health care providers together to meet the patient’s needs. The essential factors of care coordination in nursing will be discussed. To discover how coordination affects patient satisfaction and experience, an analysis of coordination will be completed.
What is care coordination?

“Care coordination synchronizes the delivery of a patient’s healthcare from multiple providers and specialists. The goals of coordinated care are to improve health outcomes by ensuring that care from disparate providers is not delivered in silos” (Mohta et al., 2020). This means that companies operating independently must assist in decreasing the price of healthcare by removing duplicate testing and processes.
Care coordination redirects healthcare services to the needs of patients. The World Health Organization states that the method is perfect for individuals with many complicated and chronic diseases that require adequate health care and medical assistance (World Health Organization [WHO], 2018). It is also relevant in underserved groups. Several techniques can help nurses meet the coordinated care objectives. The key initiatives are the development and enabling of the integrative care environment, the coordination of services across sectors, support and accountability, administration, and community empowerment.
Importance of care coordination

As already noted, coordination of care helps minimize health care expenses by removing duplicate tests and procedures. Redundant tests and treatments raise the patient’s billing, making people unwilling to go to the hospital if something happens since the money to cover the costs may not be in place. The same prescription that various providers give might lead to an overdose of drugs. Patients may seek treatment in clinics if they do not have access to primary care or if they are unable to pay the hospital’s fees. While clinics are marvelous, due to the lack of communication, treatment can hardly be coordinated. Therefore, patient training is essential for every visit. Patients must be educated on what medicines are, what they are used for, and what they should avoid while taking these medications. It is critical to schedule follow-up sessions after their initial consultation. There should be some telephone follow-up to strengthen education. Those techniques provide the intended health results for patients. Care coordination is critical for keeping our patients safe and cost-effective while they are in our care.
Collaboration to achieve desired health outcomes

The care team comprises everyone you interact with or talk with daily about patient care: physicians, nurses, social workers and caseworkers, physical or occupational therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, etc. Effective coordination of care results from good communication, the use of simple, understandable information, a focus on the patient’s overall healthcare requirements, and direct access to various healthcare services and clinicians.
Collaboration to achieve desired health outcomes

The care team comprises everyone you interact with or talk with daily about patient care: physicians, nurses, social workers and caseworkers, physical or occupational therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, etc. Effective coordination of care results from good communication, the use of simple, understandable information, a focus on the patient’s overall healthcare requirements, and direct access to various healthcare services and clinicians. Nurses must employ different collaborative techniques with patients and caregivers. The first is effective communication, where parents can share their concerns; practitioners must establish chances for patient-focused communication. They may, for example, collect and exchange information via checklists and mentoring. Secondly, the nurses should encourage shared diagnostic decision- making information and possible outcomes and risks to patients and caregivers from the beginning. It will enable patients to make appropriate decisions for their objectives, requirements, and circumstances (Fiorio et al., 2018). For example, patients can be taught disease- and drug-specific education skills to help them modify their behavior. Third, Patients should be involved at the organizational level so they may obtain vital information and help develop policies that allow families to participate creating efficient and effective health care facilities. Nursing practitioners should make use of their expertise to improve the patient’s overall experience. (Fiorio et al., 2018).
Coordinated care plans and ethical decision making

Coordinated care plans are linked to several ethical concepts, such as beneficence, respect, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and dignity. To answer ethical quandaries, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary teams participating in care coordination are necessary (Tønnessen et al., 2017). Improving access to treatment for all patients, regardless of socioeconomic status, is a challenging task. Law reforms have not been successful in decreasing the cost of care, and as a result, low-income groups have not reaped the benefits of care coordination efforts. Furthermore, the teams must strike a balance between improving the efficiency of hospital operations and maintaining the high quality of services offered to patients. When dealing with end-of-life care and drug allocation concerns, the team must also make ethical judgments. To fulfill the growing expectations of patient-centered care, healthcare workers must adopt ethical values. They must work together with their patients, families, and other caregivers to provide the best care possible (Vati, 2016).
Impact of specific healthcare policy provisions on outcomes and patient experiences

The aims of patient-centered care cannot be met unless suitable legislation is created and implemented. Advocating for the right to health begins with health care practitioners understanding how to leverage policy provisions to provide care. In the United States, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 has changed patient experiences by decreasing the cost of care and improving health outcomes. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 also protects patients’ rights. Health care workers are prohibited from disclosing sensitive information. Our responsibility is to address patient comprehension through verbalization, teach-back, or demonstration (Vati, 2016). This will help us determine whether we need to reinforce instruction or undertake alternative interventions to attain understanding.
The nurse’s vital role

Professionals, in their roles as main caregivers, must be at the forefront of acquiring and sharing critical patient information to other members of the health care team. When developing treatment programs, we must use a comprehensive and patient-centered approach. According to the WHO, nurses’ duties are linked with frameworks for continuity and coordination of care, especially nurses providing community-based services (WHO, 2018). By establishing the appropriate plan interventions for patients, you may broaden the continuum of care. They are also involved in developing disease management plans tailored to specific needs, therefore assisting in the elimination of illness. Obstacles to care in the patient environment ensure that care coordination is accomplished simply while utilizing the health information system user in smooth care transfers. Patient contentment and satisfaction with one’s care are inversely connected to the amount of care coordination one receives. In the context of population health, it is particularly vital when you are dealing with numerous complicated and chronic health problems.
Communication and the decision-making process may be utilized to help individuals attain their objectives. Additionally, knowledge of applicable regulations and ethical standards is essential in implementing change.
Patient-centered care is now possible as a result. Hospital care is a collaborative effort, and everyone must understand their position to support improved patient results. When it comes to patient care, we all bring a piece of the jigsaw. When we work together, we can think about the practice holistically and work toward a unified plan of treatment that enhances patient happiness and patient experience. We hope that you consider our suggestions in creating treatment plans for our patients. Thank you.

References

Boudioni, M., McLaren, S., & Lister, G. (2017). A critical analysis of national policies, systems, and structures of patient empowerment in england and greece. Patient Preference and Adherence, Volume 11, 1657–1669. https://doi.org/10.2147/ppa.s144028

Fiorio, C. V., Gorli, M., & Verzillo, S. (2018). Evaluating organizational change in health care: The patient- centered hospital model. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-
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Mohta, N., Prewitt, E., Gordon, L., Porter, M. E., & Lee, T. H. (2020). Introducing nejm catalyst innovations in care delivery. NEJM Catalyst, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1056/cat.19.1111

Tønnessen, S., Ursin, G., & Brinchmann, B. (2017). Care-managers’ professional choices: Ethical dilemmas and conflicting expectations. BMC Health Services Research, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-
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Tønnessen, S., Ursin, G., & Brinchmann, B. (2017). Care-managers’ professional choices: Ethical dilemmas and conflicting expectations. BMC Health Services Research, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-
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Vati, J. (2016). Ethical issues and code of ethics in nursing. In Nursing foundation: Concepts and perspectives (for post basic bsc nursing) (pp. 283–283). Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp/books/12578_21

World Health Organization. (2018). Continuity and coordination of care. WHO. Retrieved September 12, 2021, from https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/274628/9789241514033-eng.pdf?ua=1