Continuity of care: Vital, but how do we measure and promote it?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Continuity of care is a fundamental element of traditional general practice linked, via an expanding evidence base, with important patient and system outcomes. It is of particular importance as populations age and live increasingly with significant, ongoing lifestyle and chronic disease challenges. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to examine the challenges in measuring and promoting continuity of care in Australia. DISCUSSION: Appropriate measurement is challenging and the choice of tool requires careful consideration. This should include scope, length, validation testing, accessibility of the tool, alignment with the initiative requiring evaluation, and application to local and system-level analysis. As our healthcare system looks to major reform in the near future, we must ensure that it supports and incentivises continuity of care in its policy development, care models, payment method, training, data analytics, and community consultation and messaging.