title: Organizational predictors of coordination in inpatient medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As the care of hospitalized patients becomes more complex, intraprofessional coordination among nurses and among physicians, and interprofessional coordination between these groups are likely to play an increasingly important role in the provision of hospital care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify the independent effects of organizational factors on provider ratings of overall coordination in inpatient medicine (OCIM).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an exploratory cross-sectional, descriptive study. Primary data were collected between June 2010 and September 2011 through surveys of inpatient medicine nurse managers, physicians, and chiefs of medicine at 36 Veterans Health Administration medical centers. Secondary data from the 2011 Veterans Health Administration national survey of nurses were also used. Individual-level data were aggregated and analyzed at the facility level. Multivariate linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between 55 organizational factors and provider ratings of OCIM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Organizational factors that were common across models and associated with better provider ratings of OCIM included provider perceptions that the goals of senior leadership are aligned with those of the inpatient service and that the facility is committed to the highest quality of patient care, having resources and staff that enable clinicians to do their jobs, and use of strategies that enhance interactions and communication among and between nurses and physicians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To improve intraprofessional and interprofessional coordination and, consequently, patient care, facilities should consider making patient care quality a more important strategic organizational priority; ensuring that providers have the staffing, training, supplies, and other resources they need to do their jobs; and implementing strategies that improve interprofessional communication and working relationships, such as multidisciplinary rounding.
authors.affiliation: Nathalie McIntosh, PhD, is Project Manager, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Massachusetts. E-mail: mcintnm@gmail.com. Mark Meterko, PhD, is Manager Methodology & Survey Unit and Senior Investigator, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Massachusetts, and Research Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy & Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Massachusetts. James F. Burgess, Jr., PhD, is Senior Investigator, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Massachusetts, and Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Massachusetts. Joseph D. Restuccia, DrPH, is Senior Investigator, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Massachusetts, and Professor of Health Care and Operations Management, Boston University School of Management, Massachusetts. Anand Kartha, MD, is Physician, VA Boston Healthcare System Medical Service, Massachusetts. Peter Kaboli, MD, is Physician, Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation Center, Iowa City VA Healthcare System, and Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Martin Charns, DBA, is Director, Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Massachusetts, and Professor, Department of Health Policy & Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meterko
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Restuccia
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kartha
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaboli
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Charns
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration