Realising the Case Management Ideal in Multi-organisational Coordination Work to Support Work Ability and (Re)employment in Finland.
Pirjo Juvonen-Posti, Nina Nevala, Simo Kaleva
PMID 39976824WHAT IT FOUND
Work ability coordinators cannot track clients across agencies because each organisation uses separate systems.
This breaks the continuity of care during rehabilitation. Informal local networks were the only way to maintain contact. Clinicians should expect gaps in client history when patients move between services.
Key findings
01Crossing administrative and organisational boundaries was identified as the most significant coordination barrier, preventing the tracking of client processes when care transitions to another organisation.
02Professionals lacked shared norms for recording information, often having to document data twice in separate sector and shared systems, which hindered coordination.
03Collaboration was most frequent with social insurance and employment services, but workplace collaboration was often limited or non-existent despite being reported by 70% of respondents.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The survey response rate was moderate (35%), which may introduce selection bias. The sample was predominantly female and experienced, which may not reflect the views of newer professionals or male coordinators. The study focused on coordinators' perspectives; client outcomes and experiences were not directly measured. Results are specific to the Finnish service system structure and may not translate directly to other national contexts.
Declared interests
Funded by the Finnish Government’s analysis, assessment and research activities grant and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that integrated digital systems are currently working to track client progress across agencies. The study found that boundaries between organisations were often insurmountable, and informal networks were necessary to maintain continuity. Assuming a patient's care is coordinated because they are in a national system is incorrect.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →