Care coordination and case management

Care coordination is about planning a person’s care and support, and sharing information with everyone who helps to care for the person. Care coordination is something that your health care team may do after talking with you and the person you care for.

What is care coordination

Care coordination includes:

• assessing a person’s physical and mental health
• educating and supporting the person and their carer
• helping the person get community care and support services
• talking with health and community care providers
• planning what services might be needed in the future

Care coordination makes things easier for the person because they don’t have to tell their story over and over, and they don’t need as many tests and examinations. It also makes it easier for health services because they know what others are doing and when.

In a hospital or community organisation, you may have a ‘case manager’ who will coordinate care. A case manager is a health professional who is responsible for managing care. A case manager can assess the person you care for, monitor their health, plan their care, and help them to find services.

How to get care coordination

Your doctor or case manager and other health professionals can work with you to make a care plan for the person you care for. The plan says which services they need and who will provide the services.

If you think you need a care plan, talk with your doctor.

Care plans should be checked regularly. The person may get new symptoms and new illnesses and this might mean that they need other services, or that your caring tasks might change.

The care plan should also tell you who the main contact is for the care plan and team. That person will help you if you have any concerns. The main contact could be your usual doctor or case manager.