This chapter examines the role of technology in primary care for older patients and in the coordination of their care between care providers and care settings. Older adults are frequent users of primary care but are also at increased risk of health care related adverse events and resulting poor health outcomes. Despite having what are perceived as key central roles in gatekeeping or care coordination, primary care faces a number of challenges in performing these roles, including time and resource constraints, and lack of information for clinical care and quality improvement. Transitions in care are common for older patients who have multiple, complex health issues and thus require services from multiple providers and settings, but health care settings often operate independently as “silos.” As older patients transition from one care setting to another, they often experience challenges related to inadequate communication or information transfer. Technologies that can aid in addressing primary care challenges include virtual care systems, including telehealth and technologies for remote monitoring, and mHealth (mobile health) applications.

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Primary Care and Care Coordination

  • Donald Juzwishin,
  • Maggie MacNeil,
  • Axel Meisen,
  • Paul Stolee

摘要

This chapter examines the role of technology in primary care for older patients and in the coordination of their care between care providers and care settings. Older adults are frequent users of primary care but are also at increased risk of health care related adverse events and resulting poor health outcomes. Despite having what are perceived as key central roles in gatekeeping or care coordination, primary care faces a number of challenges in performing these roles, including time and resource constraints, and lack of information for clinical care and quality improvement. Transitions in care are common for older patients who have multiple, complex health issues and thus require services from multiple providers and settings, but health care settings often operate independently as “silos.” As older patients transition from one care setting to another, they often experience challenges related to inadequate communication or information transfer. Technologies that can aid in addressing primary care challenges include virtual care systems, including telehealth and technologies for remote monitoring, and mHealth (mobile health) applications.