Care coordination: changing nursing care models to stay ahead of the game

The intent of this essay is to provide an overview of the Care Coordination nursing model that was developed by nursing administration at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital in response to the economic and patient satisfaction impact of the Affordable Care Act. The public health relevance is that nurses, and the care that they provide, will have a significant impact on the quality of care and hospital reimbursement in the evolving healthcare environment. This paper reviews previous nursing care models and how social and economic factors have impacted their development. Based on the success of the Care Coordination pilot, the new model is being implemented through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center system in order to ensure better health outcomes and remain competitive against similar academic medical centers