Designing for Healthcare Equity: Implementation of Care Coordination within a Pediatric Healthcare System - Application of Implementation Mapping

This qualitative action research studies the implementation of health equity-focused care coordination within the pediatric context of Children's Mercy Kansas City (CMKC). Employing a pragmatic paradigm, the study integrates action research and case study methodologies, leveraging both inductive and deductive approaches to examine healthcare disparities and their impact on equitable care coordination. The research aligns with the phases of implementation mapping, encompassing a thorough needs assessment, development of performance and change objectives, and the formulation of tailored implementation strategies. The study utilizes purposive sampling to gather diverse perspectives from parents, community partners, and operational partners. Data sources include secondary analysis of existing interviews and small group discussions. A hybrid coding approach, incorporating elements of grounded theory, is applied to qualitative data analysis, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the complexities involved in care coordination and healthcare equity. The study emphasizes the importance of collaborative engagement with community and operational partners, fostering co-creation of actionable strategies and alignment within the real-world healthcare context. By integrating theoretical constructs with practical insights, this study contributes to a nuanced understanding of care coordination implementation within pediatric healthcare systems, aimed at enhancing healthcare equity and outcomes