What does "continuity of care" ensure for patients?

What does "continuity of care" ensure for patients?

• A. Patients can freely change doctors without notifying their plans
• B. Patients will continue to receive care from their preferred health care providers when changing insurance plans
• C. Patients must remain with their current providers regardless of insurance changes
• D. Patients can receive care in any medical setting worldwide

Answer: (B)

"Continuity of care" is a healthcare concept that ensures patients can continue to receive care from their preferred healthcare providers, even when they change insurance plans. This is crucial because it helps maintain a seamless transition in care, allowing patients to keep their established relationships with healthcare providers who are already familiar with their medical history and needs. When patients switch insurance plans, they may have concerns about losing access to their trusted providers. Continuity of care provisions aim to minimize these disruptions by facilitating care transitions and often include policies and guidelines that allow ongoing treatment with a current provider for a period of time or under certain circumstances. This helps improve treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction, as maintaining a consistent provider relationship can lead to better management of chronic conditions and comprehensive support in healthcare. The other options do not align with the core principle of continuity of care as they either imply a lack of provider engagement or do not address the need for continued access to preferred healthcare resources during changes in coverage.

"Continuity of care" is a healthcare concept that ensures patients can continue to receive care from their preferred healthcare providers, even when they change insurance plans. This is crucial because it helps maintain a seamless transition in care, allowing patients to keep their established relationships with healthcare providers who are already familiar with their medical history and needs.

When patients switch insurance plans, they may have concerns about losing access to their trusted providers. Continuity of care provisions aim to minimize these disruptions by facilitating care transitions and often include policies and guidelines that allow ongoing treatment with a current provider for a period of time or under certain circumstances.

This helps improve treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction, as maintaining a consistent provider relationship can lead to better management of chronic conditions and comprehensive support in healthcare. The other options do not align with the core principle of continuity of care as they either imply a lack of provider engagement or do not address the need for continued access to preferred healthcare resources during changes in coverage.