Using a simple framework, we describe a vision of information technology capabilities that could substantially improve four care coordination activities: identifying collaborators, contacting collaborators, collaborating, and monitoring.
Let the Left Hand Know What the Right Is Doing
A Vision for Care Coordination and Electronic Health Records
Published In: JAMIA, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, v. 21, no. 1, Jan. 2014, p. 13-16
Posted on RAND.org on June 15, 2013
Research Question
- What key IT capabilities could make providers more effective at coordinating care?
Despite the potential for electronic health records to help providers coordinate care, the current marketplace has failed to provide adequate solutions. Using a simple framework, we describe a vision of information technology capabilities that could substantially improve four care coordination activities: identifying collaborators, contacting collaborators, collaborating, and monitoring. Collaborators can include any individual clinician, caregiver, or provider organization involved in care for a given patient. This vision can be used to guide the development of care coordination tools and help policymakers track and promote their adoption.
Key Findings
IT has great potential to improve care coordination by supporting providers as they identify and contact collaborators, collaborate with them, and monitor patients to make sure coordination happens appropriately.
- However, so far, EHRs and HIEs do not include the tools providers need.
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