title: Coordination of care: effects on the continuity and quality of care.
abstract: Chronically ill elderly clients in three communities in the Netherlands were provided with the services of care coordinators. Two studies were performed to evaluate the effects of this intervention. A study among 38 coordinators addressed the effects on the continuity of care. A second study among 72 elderly clients addressed the effects on client satisfaction. While the study among coordinators clearly revealed effects on continuity (especially for interpersonal continuity), hardly any effects on satisfaction with care were reported by clients. Therefore, the appointment of care coordinators seems valuable when aimed at increasing continuity, but other interventions can be more appropriate for the improvement of client care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Achterberg
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Crebolder
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: De Witte
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Philipsen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000458:organization & administration; D019090:Case Management; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care