The Healthcare Coach Role and Its Impact on Healthcare at Palomar Health

Patient transitions between healthcare agencies are fragmented often creating a gap in services, medical errors, and unnecessary repeated hospitalizations. To manage and improve transitions of care Palomar Health (PH) developed an innovative comprehensive community-based plan, the Community-Based Care Transition Program (CCTP), with the nurse in the role of the healthcare coach.  Researchers at California State University San Marcos, School of Nursing partnered with healthcare leaders from PH to research satisfaction with the healthcare coach role in the program. The research methodology is a cross sectional design. Survey data regarding healthcare coach role evaluation will be collected from inpatient staff nurses, home healthcare nurses, case managers, physicians, and healthcare coaches. Research findings will describe challenges and benefits of the healthcare coach role. The presentation will focus on research on this innovative program and future recommendations for the healthcare coach role.