Summary of Definitions of Continuity of Care

Author(s) Year Definition of Continuitycommunication between professionals and services and with patients (cross-boundary and team continuity). 4. Tobe flexible and adjust to the needs of the individual patient over time (flexible continuity). 5. Care from as fewprofessionals as possible, consistent with other needs (longitudinal continuity). 6. To provide one or more namedindividual professionals with whom the patient can establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship (relational orpersonal continuity).”Freeman G.K.2000 Longitudinal continuity: “Seeing the same doctor at each contact.”Fu J.C., Lou W.Y.W.Green J.M., Renfrew M.J., CurtisP.A.Guthrie B., Wyke S.Neal R.D., Heywood P.L., MorleyS.2000 “Continuity of care describes the extent to which information about the diagnosis and management of healthproblems is conveyed from one visit to the next….This definition includes not only provider continuity but alsoother dimensions such as continuity of medical records and of geographical treatment site.”2000 Continuity of carer: “Care given by just one person.” Continuity of care: “Consistency of care from a trustedprovider.”2000 Traditionally, continuity of care has meant “a patient visits the same doctor.” Personal continuity occurs when an“ongoing doctor-patient relationship ensures that care takes account of the patient’s personal and social context.”2000 “The provision of care by one practitioner over a defined time.”Newberry P. 2000 “A continuous relationship between one physician and one patient over extended periods of time.”Roussey M., Desrues B., Turck D.,et al.Sparbel K.J.,Anderson M.A.Sturmberg J.P.Waldenström U., Brown S.,McLachlan H., et al.Donaldson M.2000 [Transfer of clinical responsibility from pediatric to adult care for very long term childhood chronic conditions e.g.Cystic Fibrosis. The success with which care is transferred depends on many factors; especially the existence of acompetent team to take care of the adult so that the patient can “separate” from trusted pediatric team to adult care.][Fr.]2000 “Continuity of care is a series of connected patient-care events both within a health care institution and amongmultiple settings. It requires coordination and linkages across time, settings, providers, and consumers of healthcare.”2000 Continuity of care “requires a stable care environment, …good communication to build a responsible doctor-patientrelationship and…the goal of achieving an improvement of the patient’s overall health.”2000 “Attendance at birth by a known caregiver.” “ Continuity of care can also mean caregivers working with a sharedphilosophy and guildelines for practice.”2001 “The degree to which health care activities are structured to increase information available to a clinician and toincrease the likelihood of goal alignment between the patient and the clinician.”16