Effective Physician-To-Physician Communication: An Essential Ingredient for Care Coordination (Communication‪)‬

Health care experts, policy makers, and patient advocacy groups have identified fragmentation of care as a major flaw in the current health care system--a flaw that has a negative effect on quality, patient outcomes, and health care costs. (1-4) A primary objective of the recently enacted Accountable Care Act (ACA) is improving care coordination. (5) Two models encouraged by the ACA--patient-centered medical home and accountable care organizations (ACOs)--are espoused as approaches for achieving better coordination of care. (5-7)