Using the long-term care information system for effective community care

Obtaining appropriate long-term care is a problem common to individuals in need, community service providers, regulatory agencies, and fiscal intermediaries. The fragmented nature of the long-term care system precludes natural linkages among service programs. The Long-Term Care Information System Assessment Process was developed and demonstrated to be a communication link among programs and agencies concerned with long-term care. The use of its common language tools for decision making and program organization leads to the provision of appropriate long-term care, efficient use of resources, and effective community care.