MNCARES Study Insights for Care Coordination

January 8, 2024

The Minnesota Care Coordination Effectiveness Study (MNCARES) is focused on learning which approaches to care coordination for patients with complex health care needs and/or high health care costs produce the best outcomes for patients. As the study continues in its final year, the study team will be analyzing study data and writing papers that highlight learnings that have emerged regarding how care systems and care coordinators can produce the best care quality, utilization, and patient-centered outcomes. 

Highlighted Learnings from MNCARES Series:

How did the pandemic affect patients with complex medical and social needs?

In order to answer this question, we interviewed 19 patients from 19 different and diverse types and locations of primary care systems. These patients were potentially high risk for being seriously affected by health care and social disruptions during the early COVID pandemic. From careful analysis of these interviews, we learned:

• There had been little or no impact on these patients’ physical health or their medical services.
• On the other hand, most reported major disconnections from family, friends, and community. Together with anxiety about their health, this had serious impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
• Those retired or on government support had few financial impacts, unlike those still working.
• Nearly all reported that their care coordinators had been very helpful in providing support and connections with care needs.

Key takeaways: Patients with complex medical and/or social needs found their relationship with their care coordinator to be especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Access to the full article is available here:

• Whitebird RR, Solberg LI, JaKa MM, Kindt JM, Bergdall AR, LaPlante B, Dehmer SP.  The Impact of COVID-19 on Patients Receiving Care Coordination in Primary care: a Qualitative study.  Published online June 15, 2023. 

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