Coordinated/integrated care requires what among the PCMH team?

Coordinated or integrated care is essential for successful patient-centered medical home (PCMH) functioning, which significantly relies on effective communication and well-executed handoffs among team members. This ensures that all healthcare providers involved in a patient's care are on the same page, which reduces the risk of miscommunication or errors in treatment plans.

Effective communication includes sharing patient information clearly and promptly, enabling team members to collaborate effectively in managing the patient's health. Good handoff practices ensure that when one member of the team transfers responsibility for a patient's care to another, the essential information is entirely conveyed. This is vital in maintaining continuity of care and improving patient outcomes.

On the contrary, independence in treatment planning and minimal interaction with ancillary services could lead to fragmented care, where each provider works in isolation rather than collaboratively, ultimately hindering the quality of care that the patient receives. Poor communication can exacerbate these issues, leading to misunderstandings and potential adverse effects on patient health. Therefore, the emphasis on effective communication and handoffs is fundamental to the success of coordinated care within the PCMH framework.