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Implementation of NCCARE360, a Digital Statewide Closed-Loop Referral Platform to Improve Health and Social Care Coordination: Evidence from the North Carolina COVID-19 Support Services Program

Publication ,  Journal Article
Drake, C; Hinz, EM; Granger, BB; Granados, I; Rader, A; Pitcher, A; McNeil, S; Bleser, WK; Avery, C; Bettger, JP; Tenenbaum, E; Wertman, E ...
Published in: North Carolina Medical Journal
January 1, 2024

introduction Efforts to improve population health by being responsive to patients’ social and economic conditions will benefit from care models and technologies that assess and address unmet social needs. In 2019, NCCARE360 launched in North Carolina as the first statewide digital care coordination network to “close the loop” on referrals between community-based organizations (CBOs), health service providers, and social service agencies. The platform creates a shared network for sending and receiving electronic referrals and track client outcomes. methods As a case study, we compare NCCARE360 resolution rates for community resource referrals originating from a large integrated health system primarily in Durham County from September 1, 2020, through February 28, 2021. In the first year, COVID-19 Support Services Program (COVID-SSP) funding was available to reimburse associated CBOs for providing food assistance and case management services. We compared this with the same period the following year after funds had been exhausted. We present frontline implementation experiences and highlight opportunities, challenges, and recommendations for NCCARE360 implementation. results Multi-level considerations for individual end users, organizations adopting the platform, and policymakers are presented. Additionally, we find that when COVID-SSP funding was available, more referrals were placed (3,220 cases) and referrals were more likely to be resolved (88% resolution rate) when compared to the same time frame when funds were no longer available (860 cases; 30% resolution rate). These results underscore the importance of reimbursement mechanisms and funding. limitations The examination of referral rates is observational and may not generalize to other contexts. conclusion The shift to value-based care is an opportunity to embrace structural solutions to health and social care fragmentation. There is also an opportunity to realize the potential of NCCARE360 and efforts like it to contain costs and improve health outcomes and equity.

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Published In

North Carolina Medical Journal

DOI

ISSN

0029-2559

Publication Date

January 1, 2024

Volume

85

Issue

2

Start / End Page

134 / 142

Related Subject Headings

  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences
 

Citation

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Drake, C., Hinz, E. M., Granger, B. B., Granados, I., Rader, A., Pitcher, A., … Spratt, S. (2024). Implementation of NCCARE360, a Digital Statewide Closed-Loop Referral Platform to Improve Health and Social Care Coordination: Evidence from the North Carolina COVID-19 Support Services Program. North Carolina Medical Journal, 85(2), 134–142. https://doi.org/10.18043/001c.94877
Drake, C., E. M. Hinz, B. B. Granger, I. Granados, A. Rader, A. Pitcher, S. McNeil, et al. “Implementation of NCCARE360, a Digital Statewide Closed-Loop Referral Platform to Improve Health and Social Care Coordination: Evidence from the North Carolina COVID-19 Support Services Program.” North Carolina Medical Journal 85, no. 2 (January 1, 2024): 134–42. https://doi.org/10.18043/001c.94877.
Drake C, Hinz EM, Granger BB, Granados I, Rader A, Pitcher A, et al. Implementation of NCCARE360, a Digital Statewide Closed-Loop Referral Platform to Improve Health and Social Care Coordination: Evidence from the North Carolina COVID-19 Support Services Program. North Carolina Medical Journal. 2024 Jan 1;85(2):134–42.
Drake, C., et al. “Implementation of NCCARE360, a Digital Statewide Closed-Loop Referral Platform to Improve Health and Social Care Coordination: Evidence from the North Carolina COVID-19 Support Services Program.” North Carolina Medical Journal, vol. 85, no. 2, Jan. 2024, pp. 134–42. Scopus, doi:10.18043/001c.94877.
Drake C, Hinz EM, Granger BB, Granados I, Rader A, Pitcher A, McNeil S, Bleser WK, Avery C, Bettger JP, Tenenbaum E, Shepherd-Banigan M, Wertman E, McNerney L, Mortiboy M, Purakal J, Sangvai D, Spratt S. Implementation of NCCARE360, a Digital Statewide Closed-Loop Referral Platform to Improve Health and Social Care Coordination: Evidence from the North Carolina COVID-19 Support Services Program. North Carolina Medical Journal. 2024 Jan 1;85(2):134–142.

Published In

North Carolina Medical Journal

DOI

ISSN

0029-2559

Publication Date

January 1, 2024

Volume

85

Issue

2

Start / End Page

134 / 142

Related Subject Headings

  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences