National Survey Data to Evaluate Case Management Services A Systematic Review on Care Coordination Using the National Survey of Children With Special Health Care Needs

Purpose of Study: The National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN) is a publicly available resource that can be utilized to evaluate case management services such as care coordination. The authors sought to identify how researchers operationalize care coordination when utilizing this resource. Primary Practice Setting: National outpatient survey. Methodology and Sample: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL Complete were searched for studies that utilized the NS-CSHCN and report on outcomes of pediatric care coordination. Data from studies were extracted and results are descriptively reported. Results: The authors screened 4,577 citations and included 19 studies reporting on the impact of pediatric care coordination. Care coordination was defined differently and was sometimes captured as part of the medical home definition, or assessed using study-specific questions on coordinated services and satisfaction with communication from the medical team. Implications for Case Management Practice: National survey data such as the NS-CSHCN can be utilized to evaluate case management services such as pediatric care coordination. When utilizing national survey data, it is important to consider the operationalization and definition of services (e.g., care coordination) in the context of study intentions and the existing literature. Although care coordination has been operationalized differently, it is associated with favorable household and child-related outcomes.