Measuring coordination and integration in chronic disease care: tailoring evaluation tools for North Shore Chronic Disease Services

Measuring coordination and integration within and between programs in chronic care is an evaluation strategy underutilized in health care. North Shore Chronic Disease Services (NSCDS) is an example of a coordinated approach to chronic disease care in British Columbia. In 2009, NSCDS planned a comprehensive evaluation strategy, including a tool to measure coordination and integration between and within acute, chronic and community programs. This paper extrapolates from this section of evaluation work and proposes a tailored, quantitative evaluation tool to measure the actual degree of coordination and integration of NSCDS to other community programs. The process of tailoring this tool is presented and the implications for population and public health practice in relation to chronic disease management and program evaluation are also discussed.