Dialogue Volume 12 Issue 2 2016 | Page 9

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 Issue2_16.indd 9 9 2016-06-16 12:26 PM