Understanding How to Improve the Use of Clinical Coordination Mechanisms between Primary and Secondary Care Doctors: Clues from Catalonia

Laura Esteve-Matalí, Ingrid Vargas, Franco Amigo, Pere Plaja, Francesc Cots, Erick F. Mayer, Joan-Manuel Pérez-Castejón and María-Luisa Vázquez
Additional contact information
Laura Esteve-Matalí: Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Ingrid Vargas: Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Franco Amigo: Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Pere Plaja: Fundació Salut Empordà, 17600 Figueres, Spain
Francesc Cots: Parc de Salut Mar, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
Erick F. Mayer: Serveis de Salut Integrats Baix Empordà, 17230 Palamós, Spain
Joan-Manuel Pérez-Castejón: Badalona Serveis Assistencials, 08911 Badalona, Spain
María-Luisa Vázquez: Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, 08022 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Clinical coordination between primary (PC) and secondary care (SC) is a challenge for health systems, and clinical coordination mechanisms (CCM) play an important role in the interface between care levels. It is therefore essential to understand the elements that may hinder their use. This study aims to analyze the level of use of CCM, the difficulties and factors associated with their use, and suggestions for improving clinical coordination. A cross-sectional online survey-based study using the questionnaire COORDENA-CAT was conducted with 3308 PC and SC doctors in the Catalan national health system. Descriptive bivariate analysis and logistic regression models were used. Shared Electronic Medical Records were the most frequently used CCM, especially by PC doctors, and the one that presented most difficulties in use, mostly related to technical problems. Some factors positively associated with frequent use of various CCM were: working full-time in integrated areas, or with local hospitals. Interactional and organizational factors contributed to a greater extent among SC doctors. Suggestions for improving clinical coordination were similar between care levels and related mainly to the improvement of CCM. In an era where management tools are shifting towards technology-based CCM, this study can help to design strategies to improve their effectiveness.

Keywords: clinical coordination; coordination mechanisms; primary care; secondary care; electronic medical record; remote consultation; health services research; questionnaire (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3224/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3224/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3224-:d:521004

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().