Patient-centered Coordination in Healthcare Service Networks - Measuring and Improving Inter-organizational Information Flow

This thesis investigates the idea of a coordination service that improves the information flow between independent stakeholders along the patient care pathway. Based on identified requirements regarding process, ICT-structure, and legal constraints, a stroke-specific coordination service was developed, validated, implemented, and evaluated. A randomized controlled trial showed improved patients' HRQoL and competences, positive cost-benefit ratio, and acceptance by the involved stakeholders.