A home health nurse visits a patient and his spouse once per week to change the patient's wound dressing. By visiting the patient and his spouse weekly, the nurse develops a sense of clinical responsibility and an accumulated knowledge of the patient and spouse's personal and medical circumstances. This situation describes which component of continuity of care (COC)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Relational continuity refers to the interpersonal elements of the COC model across time and care settings. The term applies to nurse patient/family relationships, team relationships, and relationships between health system providers and community-based supports. The stronger the relationships, the greater are the potential for quality-coordinated care. Respect for patient and family values, beliefs, knowledge, cultural background, and preferences are fundamental aspects of patient-centered relational continuity. Trusting relationships with a primary provider or "medical home" health care team gives patients confidence that their care needs will be consistently met.

A Home Health Nurse Visits a Patient and His Spouse