Care Coordination
What Is Care Coordination?
Care coordination is when families, healthcare professionals, and community partners work together to find services and resources a child needs for the best possible health. Most times, families take the lead in managing their child’s care, finding information, and working with doctors and organizations. Care coordination can help families learn about new services or resources, and it can provide some relief for families who might be stressed or overwhelmed.
Care Coordination in Rhode Island
Parents and caregivers often need to learn about how to work with and use these programs:
- Early Intervention (EI): A program designed to help families support the growth and development of their children, from birth until age three, who have a developmental delay or a diagnosed medical condition that can cause developmental delay. If eligible, care coordination is provided as part of a family's care plan.
- Pediatricians or family doctors: Primary care doctors help with your child’s health and development. They will follow your child’s progress and talk to you about any concerns they have. Your child’s doctor will also make sure your child gets recommended preventive services, including immunizations, lead screenings, assessments, and referrals to specialists and other resources. Primary care is family-centered and focuses on the importance of the relationship between the family and the doctor. Many practices in Rhode Island are Patient Centered Medical Homes This means they focus on team-based, coordinated care.
- Health insurance care coordinators: Your health insurance may offer care coordination and management to help you coordinate care and make sure the services you want to use are covered by your insurance. All of Rhode Island’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations offer care coordination, including complex care management. Call your health insurance carrier’s Member Services office to learn more. The Member services phone number is usually printed on the back of your health insurance card.
- Cedar Family Centers provides family-centered, intensive care management and coordination to families with eligible children up to age 21. This agency’s goal is to help children reach their full potential and thrive in their community.
- Family Care Community Partnerships (FCCPs) partner with the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families to bring community-based services to children with behavioral or emotional problems, troubles in school or with the law, or who are struggling with family life.
- RI Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics | Dept. of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals are outpatient clinics that provide behavioral health services for all ages and regardless of insurance status, available across the entire state. Anyone who receives services from a CCBHC can get care coordination and case management services.
- Diagnostic Centers and specialty clinics offer testing and treatment for specific health conditions.
Get Help and Stay Organized
Families may have several care coordinators who are helping them. It is important to keep all of your child’s care coordinators updated. Things like patient portals, care maps, and care notebooks can help you collect and share information.
Contact Rhode Island Family Voices to learn how you can access care coordination services.