Why Better Care Needs Better Connections

Improving the flow of diagnostic information across care teams can save money, reduce delays, and support better patient outcomes

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Communication failures have been implicated in more than 70% of sentinel events reported in US hospitals, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
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Fragmented care can lead to duplicated testing, delayed follow-up, medication conflicts, and avoidable spending estimated at $25 billion to $45 billion annually in the United States.
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Timely laboratory results, including phosphate, potassium, and magnesium levels, support safe monitoring of patients receiving home enteral nutrition after hospital discharge.
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Standardized pathways, structured handoffs, multidisciplinary reviews, patient engagement, escalation protocols, and quality audits are practical approaches to improving care coordination.
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Interoperable electronic health records and laboratory information systems can make pathology data accessible across care settings and support continuity of care.

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