Aim: To compare care coordination in Germany and the United States, considering healthcare system structure, policies, coordination mechanisms, and country-specific challenges. Design & methods: A systematic review was conducted, analyzing peer-reviewed articles in English from 2013 to 2018 using PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. Results: Our analysis included 24 studies, with nine focusing on Germany and 15 on the United States. Case manager designations were often inconsistent or absent. Despite some electronic health record adoption, fax and paper formats persisted, causing interoperability issues. Challenges, including physician resistance, technical barriers, and a lack of financial incentives, are revealed. Conclusion: This study highlights insufficient high-quality evidence for effective care coordination in both countries. Strategies are needed to overcome barriers hindering patient information sharing across care levels and enhance healthcare coordination.