CARE COORDINATION FROM ACUTE TO SUB-ACUTE HOSPITAL On admittance to hospital, patients and families are often unprepared, anxious and overwhelmed, leaving their familiar environment for the unknown hospital setting, where they often feel exposed, vulnerable and out of control. Patients and families need to deal with the medical crisis and become dependent on medical personal, which increases their levels of anxiety, uncertainty and helplessness. Stressors and uncertainty about medical costs, prognosis and the influence on psycho-social circumstances, can enhance anxiety, anger and depression. A lack of clear communication, expectations and misperceptions between the patients, families, MDT and medical personal can increase levels of anxiety and uncertainty. If not addressed early, these aspects can influence recovery and can lead to unsafe discharge or re-admittance to hospital, thus creating more stress. Care coordination alleviates this process, as the patient and family are guided in the transition from acute to sub-acute to longterm setting. The advantage of care coordination for the patient, family and hospital are as follows: THE ADVANTAGE OF CARE COORDINATION • Assist patients and families in restoring emotional healing and well-being; • Alleviate the emotional burden placed on medical personal and the multi-professional team, promote effective communication and reduce dissatisfaction; • Promote the best interests of patients and families; • Risk management through early intervention in acute hospitals, multi-professional teamwork and discharge planning; • Enhance effective service delivery, promote inter-facility communication; • Enhance sound relationships and facilitate marketing. Care Coordination Skills such as Empathy, Critical thinking, Boundary setting, Verbal and written communication, Clarification, Reflection, Reframing, Resilience, Facilitating, Confronting, Organizing, Coordination and planning, Knowledge of human development, Theory and practice, Insight, Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Self-Awareness, contribute to the welfare of patients, families and hospital staff.