Continuity of care in family practice. Part 3: measurement and evaluation of continuity of care.
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TL;DR
The role of "continuity" in improving the "outcome" of health care is infrequently evaluated, and existing research which has examined continuity of care is reviewed.
Abstract
Continuity of care is basic to the value system of family practice. Yet it is not often treated as a measurable quality, and the role of "continuity" in improving the "outcome" of health care is infrequently evaluated. "Continuity" can be understood in terms of its elements: continuity of a professional relationship, continuity of information, and the actual delivery of service or care. These elements in turn can be related to outcome by means of a series of assertions or hypotheses which together constitute a "theory" of continuity of care. This paper develops these ideas and reviews existing research which has examined continuity of care.