responses

Response 1 Oscar A

As the complexity of patient needs grows and with limited financial resources, the need to move towards a more integrated healthcare system has been realized. Hence, care coordination has been recognized as an opportunity for the healthcare system to improve its services and provide accessible, quality, and safe care while ensuring its cost-effectiveness for the patients (Karam et al., 2021). The main objective of care coordination is to strategically plan patient care activities and exchange information among all individuals involved in a patient’s care to provide safer and more effective care, while also taking into account their diverse needs and preferences. This indicates that there is a strong correlation between care coordination and the quality of patient care delivered. Various studies have also reported that care coordination interventions have a positive impact on reducing emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and readmissions, particularly in older high-risk patients, as well as improving the quality of chronic disease management, patient satisfaction, and access to specialty care because care coordinators are available outside of their normal hours and thus, can provide excellent continuity of care to the patients when urgent issues arise (Karam et al., 2021). For instance, a care coordination program was implemented in a nursing home setting which resulted in reduced readmissions and better patient outcomes because the program ensured that patients were provided with accurate medications and a proper schedule for home health services (Nelson, 2021). Another study also showed that care coordination contributed to high-quality health care as it helped improve communication between healthcare professionals in terms of receiving information promptly which is important to the provision of optimal care (Möckli et al., 2023).

Overall, effective care coordination can positively improve patient outcomes, curb healthcare expenditures, decrease healthcare utilization, and allocate resources more efficiently. This model also allows for the use of evidence-based strategies and moves towards a more integrated healthcare system where the skills of each healthcare professional can be maximized to their fullest capacity to manage high-risk and complex cases.

Response 2 Bechael H

Care coordination is a team activity between the patient and their family to meet the patient’s various needs and help them during their treatment and recovery journey. On the other hand, quality of healthcare involves administering quality services to the patient to ensure recovery of the patient. It is true that care coordination and the quality of patient care correlate because they both involve coordinating and working together to ensure the patient receives the required care. Working together as a team and sharing information for the betterment of the patient is critical in ensuring and promoting quality healthcare. Additionally, both correlate because the aim is to help keep the patient safe from dangers (Ribeiro & Cavalcanti, 2020). They also help provide a conducive environment for the patient to be able to receive care and recover and ensure that the patient feels loved and attended to during their worst moments and in their condition in the hospital.

Care coordination plays a huge role in improving quality of life and reducing expenditures. For instance, care coordination helps avoid duplication of services as well as avoid unnecessary errors that may occur. Additionally, it decreases the need for caregivers to provide total care because there is an establishment of a family team approach; hence, the patient is free with the health personnel and can explain his/her condition to them without hesitation. Through care coordination, the patient’s families can save on costs, which may have been used to get some other needed services (Vanneman et al., 2020). Additionally, the family members can offer the patient some services, reducing costs and curbing health expenses. The quality of life and the living conditions of the patient in the hospital are improved since there is teamwork and trust among the healthcare personnel, patients, and their families. Trust and working together as a unit are vital in improving the health condition and quality of life.