Case Study: Care Coordination

Based in the health plan’s local area, Outreach Coordinator Sally Brown also participates in Clinical Collaboration. Armed with a greater understanding of John’s situation, Sally goes into action to engage John in the Synergy program. Having worked in the community for some time, Sally had previously established linkages with John’s homeless shelter and had educated the staff on the Synergy program.

After several attempts, Sally meets John at the shelter. Sally explains the Synergy program and directly connects John with a personal, dedicated Synergy Care Coach. Through Care Coordination John is also referred to a multi-crisis center and, once stabilized, enters a group home.

As John works with his coach, he becomes more motivated to proactively address his health and life issues. He becomes more cooperative with group home staff who are assisting him in consistently adhering to his medication regimen and more receptive to working through Diabetes and Psychiatric self-management information with his Care Coach. He also begins taking advantage of an opportunity to receive vocational training and ultimately to become employed.

Through Clinical Collaboration that includes his PCP John is referred to a local Diabetes Self Management Education Center. John is initially hesitant, but with his Care Coach’s encouragement, he makes it a goal. As John becomes more self-efficacious the fluctuations in his insulin wane, his psychiatric condition stabilizes, he feels more confident and his health improves. Because of his stability and understanding of his condition, an appointment with an endocrinologist has been secured and he is under consideration for an insulin pump.

John has not utilized in-patient or emergent health care services in the seven months so far that he has been in the Synergy program.

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