Utilizing the care coordination Atlas as a framework: An integrative review of transitional care models

Introduction Care coordination reduces care fragmentation and costs while improving health care quality. Transitional care programs, guided by tested models are an important component of effective care coordination, and have been found to reduce adverse events and prevent hospital readmissions. Using the Care Coordination Atlas as a framework, this article reports an integrative review of two transitional care models including analysis of model components, implementation factors, and associated 30-day all-cause hospital readmission rates. Methods Integrative review methodology. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched from January 2015 to July 2020. Fourteen studies set in 18 skilled nursing facilities and 50 hospitals were selected for data extraction and analysis. Results The ReEngineered Discharge model had five components and the Better Outcomes by Optimizing Safe Transitions model had eight components in the nine Care Coordination Atlas domains. Communication dominated activities in both models while neither addressed accountability/responsibility. Implementation was influenced by leadership commitment to understanding complexity of the models, culture change, integration of models into workflows, and associated labor costs. Model implementation studies consistently reported improvements in facilities' 30-day all-cause hospital readmission rates. Discussion The Care Coordination Atlas was a useful framework to guide analysis of transitional care models. Leadership commitment to and participation in model implementation is vital. The models do not focus beyond the immediate post-discharge period limiting the impact on chronic disease management. Frameworks such as the Care Coordination Atlas are useful to help guide development of care coordination activities and associations with readmission rates.

Automated summary

This article highlights the importance of care coordination in reducing fragmentation and costs in healthcare, while improving quality. Transitional care programs have been effective in reducing adverse events and preventing hospital readmissions. The Care Coordination Atlas serves as a useful framework for analyzing transitional care models and their impact on readmission rates. Leadership commitment and participation in model implementation are vital to success.