Coordinator of integrated primary care – competences of a new healthcare worker.

Background. 27 percent of PHC providers in Poland employ the healthcare coordinator. Objectives. The aim was to determine the expected competencies of the coordinator in light of the needs of employers and the possibilities of an educational system. Material and methods. In the first stage, 24 study programs were analyzed in terms of qualifications of a new profession. In the second, a survey was conducted to assess the usefulness of knowledge, skills and social competencies among the representatives of 22 PHC providers. In the third, an expert panel developed the key competencies of the coordinator. Results. The analysis identified a number of new, unique qualifications. In the area of knowledge: understanding of work in PHC including new concepts (patient-centered care, value-based care, deinstitutionalization), population approach, key healthcare measures, interpersonal and health communication, basics of clinical work of all members of an interdisciplinary team, reporting of services. In the area of skills: communication using call-center systems, organization of teamwork, identification of patients for HC interventions in IT systems, effective recruitment, evaluation of PHC activities, health coaching and advocacy, providing health campaigns in social media. With regard to social competencies: the coordinator should build and maintain permanent relationships between the members of an interdisciplinary teams, be open to changes and new solutions, can be a guide for a patient and has a patient-centric attitude. Conclusions. We defined the professional profile of an iPHC coordinator as a guide oriented on patient’s needs, who is open to changes and innovations and who is effective in communication and interdisciplinary team-work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]