Service coordination: A critical component of sustainable access to care for rural residents

Many communities across the U.S. and internationally have realized that a fragmented service delivery system is inefficient and ineffective, particularly for those individuals and families who lack resources and have difficulty accessing services at all. Several strategies in integrating and coordinating services have proven effective in a variety of settings, leading to the conclusion that service coordination is a critical component of improving access to care. In the Brazos Valley, we have witnessed this phenomenon in improving access for rural residents. In this context, service coordination occurs at two basic levels: organizational and individual. At the agency level, service coordination serves to facilitate a network of organizations, fostering communication and information sharing. In many cases, this leads to identification of distinct opportunities to leverage resources to increase organizations' capacity to serve their clients and to expand services that are available in the community. At the client level, service coordination begins by assessing a continuum of needs and then identifying appropriate resources to meet those needs. A key element to the success of service coordination in our experience has been individual and family capacity building that happens through the service coordination process. Service coordinators focus on basic self-sufficiency by identifying educational and vocational opportunities, working with clients on developing budgets and managing finances, and providing supportive services to assist the client in achieving their goals.