Care Coordination: Enhancing Infusion Patient Outcomes
Dr. Athanasia Giannakas-Lafaro shares insights from personal experience and clinical practice on how strategic infusion care coordination improves patient outcomes.
I was asked to write about how care coordination enhances patient outcomes. Little did I know just one month later, I would step into a new role as Advanced Practice Clinical Coordinator, further immersing myself in this crucial aspect of patient care.
Let’s start with an introduction. My name is Dr. Athanasia Giannakas-Lafaro, and I have been in the home infusion space since 2010. I love the work we do here at PromptCare, and my journey has been shaped by the impact of coordinated care.
My Role in Infusion Care
I started my career as a home infusion nurse. With my backpack full of supplies, I traveled to patients’ homes to deliver care in the space they felt most comfortable. I quickly realized seeing my patients regularly helped create strong, immediate connections. As we bonded, we would both look forward to regular infusion visits.
Over time, I transitioned to a role as PromptCare’s Team Nursing Lead, where I provided clinical support to our field nurses. Behind the scenes, I pursued further education, earning a master’s degree to become a Nurse Practitioner, and ultimately completing a Doctor of Nursing Practice. My passion for advancing patient care at PromptCare led me to seek growth within the company, and I was promoted to Advanced Practice Clinical Coordinator. In this role, I develop and implement programs designed to improve patient outcomes through structured, coordinated care processes.
The Power of Care Coordination
Care coordination enhances patient outcomes in numerous ways, particularly in a multidisciplinary setting like PromptCare. It involves the collaboration of various internal and external stakeholders, each playing a critical role in ensuring seamless patient care.
At its core, care coordination is the strategic organization of patient activities and services across multiple providers. The primary goal is to ensure we effectively communicate patient care goals and all relevant information in order to prioritize and meet their unique healthcare needs through high-quality, personalized engagement. Without proper coordination, gaps in care can lead to fragmented treatment, duplicated services, and negative health outcomes.
Addressing Healthcare Challenges Through Coordination
Patient care coordination is becoming standard practice, particularly within value-based care models that focus on quality of care, patient experience, and population health. This approach helps address common healthcare challenges, such as:
- Ambiguity between primary and specialist providers
- Lack of communication regarding referrals and appointments
- Misinformation or incomplete data leading to duplication of services
- Inefficiencies that increase healthcare costs and delays in treatment
By coordinating care, PromptCare bridges these gaps to ensure patients receive a streamlined, holistic approach to their infusion therapy. This not only improves health outcomes—it also enhances patient satisfaction, reduces unnecessary healthcare expenses, and increases the efficiency of overseeing data to improve outcomes.
The Four Key Components of Effective Care Coordination
Effective care coordination consists of four essential components that drive improved patient outcomes.
- Holistic Understanding of Patient Needs
A patient-centered care plan is essential for ensuring the patient’s healthcare team aligns their efforts toward specific treatment goals. This approach keeps the focus on the individual rather than the illness, and promotes comprehensive, effective treatment.
- Streamlined Access to Care
Using a patient-centered model, care coordination ensures patients can easily access services and providers without unnecessary barriers. By removing obstacles to care, PromptCare enhances efficiency and prevents delays in critical treatments.
- Engaging and Educating Patients
Patient engagement is a crucial element of value-based care. When patients are actively involved in their treatment plans, they are more likely to adhere to prescribed therapies, track their progress, and maintain appointments. Clear, concise communication empowers patients to take ownership of their health, which ultimately leads to better compliance and improved outcomes.
- Strong Communication Across Transitions of Care
Effective communication is the foundation of coordinated care. Open dialogue between healthcare providers, nurses, pharmacists, and patients builds trust, reduces confusion, and ensures continuity of care across different settings. Well-structured communication prevents treatment delays and ensures all stakeholders remain informed and aligned.
A Unified Approach to Patient Care
At PromptCare, patient engagement and care coordination are at the heart of everything we do. By building strong relationships across pharmacy, nursing, and the sales teams, we strive to create a seamless experience for both patients and providers. Our team ensures we communicate progress efficiently, which helps providers make timely, informed decisions to positively impact patient health.
Care coordination is more than just a process—it’s a commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care that enhances outcomes and improves the quality of life for our patients. My journey at PromptCare has given me firsthand insight into how strategic collaboration can transform patient experiences, and I am grateful to play a role in advancing this vital aspect of healthcare.
References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2025). Care Coordination. https://www.ahrq.gov/ncepcr/care/coordination.html
Godla, Daniel. (2024). What is Care Coordination? Four Ways it Supports Patient Outcomes. ThoroughCare. https://www.thoroughcare.net/blog/what-is-care-coordination
McDonald KM, Sundaram V, Bravata DM, et al. Closing the Quality Gap: A Critical Analysis of Quality Improvement Strategies (Vol. 7: Care Coordination). Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2007 Jun. (Technical Reviews, No. 9.7.) 3, Definitions of Care Coordination and Related Terms. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44012/
