Are Nurse Coordinators Really Performing Coordination Pathway Activities? A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies in Oncology
Patient Pathway Coordination (PPC) improves patient care quality and safety, particularly in oncology. PPC roles, such as nurse coordinators (NCs), have positively impacted the quality of patient care and reduced financial costs. However, NCs and their real activities in Health Care Organizations (H...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/8/1090 |
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| author | Maria-Ximena Acero Etienne Minvielle Mathias Waelli |
| author_facet | Maria-Ximena Acero Etienne Minvielle Mathias Waelli |
| author_sort | Maria-Ximena Acero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Patient Pathway Coordination (PPC) improves patient care quality and safety, particularly in oncology. PPC roles, such as nurse coordinators (NCs), have positively impacted the quality of patient care and reduced financial costs. However, NCs and their real activities in Health Care Organizations (HCOs) are unclear. Our aim was to identify, quantify, and compare all activities performed by NCs in oncology care settings from an organizational approach. <b>Methods</b>: We used qualitative and quantitative approaches based on case study principles. We accumulated 325 observation hours by shadowing and timing the activities of 14 NCs in four French HCO in oncology. Data analysis was conducted using an analytical framework to investigate the Activity of PAtient PAthway Nurse Coordinators in Oncology (APANCO). <b>Results</b>: Our research generated important findings: (1) NC roles and job titles are not standardized. (2) Non-coordination related activities are important in NC work content. Non-coordination times were consistent with distribution times between ward NCs and NCs in centralized structures. Ward NCs had higher non-coordination activities when compared with NCs in centralized structures. (3) PPC times varied for both ward NCs and NCs in centralized structures. Ward NCs performed less design coordination when compared with NCs in centralized structures, and this latter group also performed more external coordination than ward NCs. <b>Conclusions</b>: NCs do not just perform PPC activities. Their position in HCO structures, wards, or centralized structures, influence their work content. Centralized structures allow NCs to focus on their PPC roles. We also highlight different dimensions of NC work and training requirements. Our study could help managers and decision-makers develop PPC roles in oncology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:59:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-793e9dab348642988a16c58d176fce8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:59:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-793e9dab348642988a16c58d176fce8a2023-11-17T19:26:20ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-04-01118109010.3390/healthcare11081090Are Nurse Coordinators Really Performing Coordination Pathway Activities? A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies in OncologyMaria-Ximena Acero0Etienne Minvielle1Mathias Waelli2ARENES—UMR 6051, EHESP, French School of Public Health, University of Rennes, 15 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, Francei3-CRG Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Route de Saclay, 91120 Palaiseau, FranceARENES—UMR 6051, EHESP, French School of Public Health, University of Rennes, 15 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, FrancePatient Pathway Coordination (PPC) improves patient care quality and safety, particularly in oncology. PPC roles, such as nurse coordinators (NCs), have positively impacted the quality of patient care and reduced financial costs. However, NCs and their real activities in Health Care Organizations (HCOs) are unclear. Our aim was to identify, quantify, and compare all activities performed by NCs in oncology care settings from an organizational approach. <b>Methods</b>: We used qualitative and quantitative approaches based on case study principles. We accumulated 325 observation hours by shadowing and timing the activities of 14 NCs in four French HCO in oncology. Data analysis was conducted using an analytical framework to investigate the Activity of PAtient PAthway Nurse Coordinators in Oncology (APANCO). <b>Results</b>: Our research generated important findings: (1) NC roles and job titles are not standardized. (2) Non-coordination related activities are important in NC work content. Non-coordination times were consistent with distribution times between ward NCs and NCs in centralized structures. Ward NCs had higher non-coordination activities when compared with NCs in centralized structures. (3) PPC times varied for both ward NCs and NCs in centralized structures. Ward NCs performed less design coordination when compared with NCs in centralized structures, and this latter group also performed more external coordination than ward NCs. <b>Conclusions</b>: NCs do not just perform PPC activities. Their position in HCO structures, wards, or centralized structures, influence their work content. Centralized structures allow NCs to focus on their PPC roles. We also highlight different dimensions of NC work and training requirements. Our study could help managers and decision-makers develop PPC roles in oncology.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/8/1090nurse coordinatoractivitycare coordinationnon-coordinationactivity of the patient pathway nurse coordinators in oncology |
| spellingShingle | Maria-Ximena Acero Etienne Minvielle Mathias Waelli Are Nurse Coordinators Really Performing Coordination Pathway Activities? A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies in Oncology Healthcare nurse coordinator activity care coordination non-coordination activity of the patient pathway nurse coordinators in oncology |
| title | Are Nurse Coordinators Really Performing Coordination Pathway Activities? A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies in Oncology |
| title_full | Are Nurse Coordinators Really Performing Coordination Pathway Activities? A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies in Oncology |
| title_fullStr | Are Nurse Coordinators Really Performing Coordination Pathway Activities? A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies in Oncology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Are Nurse Coordinators Really Performing Coordination Pathway Activities? A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies in Oncology |
| title_short | Are Nurse Coordinators Really Performing Coordination Pathway Activities? A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies in Oncology |
| title_sort | are nurse coordinators really performing coordination pathway activities a comparative analysis of case studies in oncology |
| topic | nurse coordinator activity care coordination non-coordination activity of the patient pathway nurse coordinators in oncology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/8/1090 |
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