Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2022

Keywords

Care coordination, CMC, Children with Medical Complexities, Patient Navigation

Abstract

It is no secret that medical costs are rising. However, for families with children who have medical complexities, the financial burden is just the beginning of challenges faced daily. However, programs are beginning to develop aiming at minimizing the challenges these families face. One of these initiatives’ hospitals continue to improve is the use of care coordination or patient navigation efforts. The Sanford Patient Navigation Program is a new hospital initiative reflecting care coordination models across the country designed to better serve children with medical complexities in our communities. The project examined the first two cohorts of the Sanford Patient Navigation program. Cohort I consisted of 30 participants and Cohort II consisted of 26 participants, separately. Twenty- eight of Cohort I participants have participated in a post-survey given after completing a year in the program. Cohort II did have additional requirements in qualification: removing the geographical limit and adding a financial eligibility restriction (<200% of the federal poverty level). Between the two cohorts, six areas in the pre-program evaluations stood out to compare including medical home status, care coordination needs, perception of healthcare provider communication, resource challenges, parental distress, and financial burdens. Regarding meeting medical home status, Cohort I showed 83.3% of participants did not meet the criteria for a medical home in the Pre-Program evaluation with 80% of Cohort II not meeting criteria for medical home. A lack of care coordination was the largest reason for a lack of qualifying participants. In Cohort I, 60% of participants needed extra help and did not receive it with 75% of Cohort II facing the same issue.

Pages

35

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

© 2022 Carolyn Ann Blatchford

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