Colocating Health Services: A Way to Improve Coordination of Children's Health Care?

Pediatric practices are faced with a growing demand that they address the healthy development of their patients. As pediatric practices strengthen their role as medical homes for their patients, they need either to provide expanded services or enhance their capacity to coordinate that care. One option for enhancing the existing capacity of pediatric practices is colocation with other providers and services in the same setting. This issue brief examines what is currently known about the use of colocation and its benefits. The literature and interviews used as information resources for the brief suggest that colocation of services is not a single strategy but rather a complex set of relationships, organizational structures, and other features meant to help practices deliver effective care. However, more thorough examination of current colocation approaches is needed before advice can be provided to practices considering this option.