COORDINATION OF CARE - EFFECTS ON THE CONTINUITY AND QUALITY OF CARE

Chronically ill elderly clients in three communities in the Netherland s were provided with the services of care coordinators, Two studies we re performed to evaluate the effects of this intervention, A study amo ng 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 effe cts on continuity (especially for interpersonal continuity), hardly an y effects on satisfaction with care were reported by clients, Therefor e, the appointment of care coordinators seems valuable when aimed at i ncreasing continuity, but other interventions can be more appropriate for the improvement of client care. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd.