Which item is part of a care coordinator's scope of practice?

• A. Coordinate across settings
• B. Conduct surgical procedures
• C. Administer medications
• D. Perform diagnostic testing

Answer: (A)

Coordinating across settings is the core function of a care coordinator. This role centers on ensuring seamless transitions and continuous communication as a patient moves between hospital, primary care, home, and other care environments. The emphasis is on planning, coordinating services, and navigating the system so care is coordinated and patient needs are met without gaps.

Why this fits best: a care coordinator acts as a bridge among providers, patients, and families, arranging follow-up appointments, coordinating discharge plans, linking to home health or community resources, and reconciling medications during transitions. All of these activities aim to unify care across settings and improve outcomes, which is the essence of their scope.

The other tasks require clinical authority and hands-on patient care that typically fall to licensed professionals. Conducting surgical procedures requires surgical training and licensure. Administering medications and performing diagnostic testing require appropriate clinical qualifications and supervision. Those activities lie outside the usual scope of a care coordinator, who focuses on facilitation and coordination rather than delivering direct clinical interventions.