Feature
Continuity
of Care
We want to hear
from you about
how to improve the
patient experience
photo: GETTY IMAGES
Continuity of care: the degree to which a series of discrete health-care events is experienced as coherent and
connected, and consistent with the patient’s medical needs and personal context. (HQCA, Continuity of Patient
Care Study)
I
n May 2012, Greg Price, a 31-yearold Alberta man, died unexpectedly
three days after surgery to remove a
cancerous testicle. His death was the
result of delayed treatment following disjointed medical care. The tragedy prompted
the province to take a hard look at the
system that permitted Mr. Price’s death.
The Health Quality Council of Alberta
(HQCA) examined the details of the case,
as part of its Continuity of Patient Care
study; and concluded that the health-care
system had utterly failed Mr. Price. Its
report stated that, “This patient was in the
care of two, and then three, primary care
physicians, none of whom knew or had acIssue 2, 2016 Dialogue
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