Enhancing Continuity of Care through IT-Enabled Social and Healthcare Service Mapping

Ensuring continuity of care remains a critical challenge, often hindered by fragmented healthcare and social support services. This paper presents an IT-enabled approach to mapping social and healthcare services, designed to enhance care coordination and accessibility. By prioritizing service identification rather than solely patient needs, we propose a digital framework that integrates existing healthcare and social services, facilitating seamless navigation and optimized resource utilization. Our methodology includes service clustering, gap analysis, and the development of a digital platform that improves information transparency, interoperability, and user engagement. A citizen survey highlights the demand for a unified service repository, emphasizing ease of access, digital literacy support, and real-time service updates. The proposed solution has the potential to strengthen healthcare ecosystems, reduce care fragmentation, and ensure comprehensive, well-coordinated support tailored to individuals’ evolving needs.