A Continuum of Care for the Inner City

Abstract

THE urban elderly, the medically indigent, the chronically ill, and those who are homebound or in nursing homes present complex medical and social problems with needs that require care in ambulatory settings, acute-care hospitals, chronic-care hospitals and nursing homes, as well as in the home.1 2 3 4 If care to these groups is to be effective it must have the elements of personalization and continuity. These elements are rare in the inner city where, typically, much care occurs as a byproduct of training in hospitals that have been obliged to serve as the major recourse for many problems better handled elsewhere.5 During . . .