Clinical tools for success in managing care

Managing care effectively requires a coalition of services that are sensitive to individual needs, promote effective resource use, support physician practice, and ensure coordination of services across the continuum. Several clinical tools exist to establish structures, systems, and processes that integrate management of expected and unexpected patient and family needs across the life span and throughout the health care continuum. System evaluation; unrelenting communication; continuous improvement; case management; empowerment; standards-based clinical practice; and satisfaction of the patient, family, and care provider are some of the tools available to develop systems that effectively manage health and illness. This article provides some examples of several of these "tools," the process of development and implementation, and evaluation strategies.