Technology's Enabling Role to Improve Care Coordination

Abstract

The U.S. healthcare system has been often characterized as fragmented and disconnected. Lack of effective and concurrent adoption of information technology has been known to be a factor that contributes to the decentralization of healthcare systems. Fragmented systems are also responsible for creating silos that operate with minimal coordination. Clinicians in such systems are providing duplicate services because they are not aware of patient care plans set by other practitioners. These duplications could lead to prescription drug errors due to inconsistencies and lack of coordination in the treatment services and in some cases drug-drug interactions. The following suggests a role for technology to facilitate better care coordination.