Institute:Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Training Curriculum
Component:Introduction to Health Care and Public Health in the U.S.
Unit:Delivering Health Care - Part 2
Lecture:Outpatient Facilities and Primary Care
Slide content:Primary Care Characteristics - 1 Integrated - provision of services that are: Comprehensive Coordinated Continuous A seamless process of care combining events and information that occur in different settings 12
Slide notes:Primary care is the provision of integrated care. Integrated care refers to services that are comprehensive, coordinated, and continuous. Comprehensive care means that health care services address any health issues that the patient may experience throughout his or her life, from birth to death. Coordinated care ensures that combinations of health care services and information are processed in a fashion that meets the needs of the patient. It also suggests that there is a connection or ordering among these services, including the resources that are available within the community. Continuity or continuous care means that a single member of the health care team must have a long-term, continuous relationship with the patient. Clinical continuity allows effective and timely communication of health information, including events, advice, and patient preferences. This information is recorded over time for future reference, with the goal of improving care for the patient. Integrated care is a seamless process that combines information and events that occurred in different settings, at different levels of care, and at different times, into a single entity -- the primary care environment. 12