Continuity of care means which of the following?

• A. Move patients to another department or facility but have the same amount of care anywhere they go by communicating with those other departments/facilities
• B. Provide continuous care within the same department only
• C. Move patients to another department or facility but without any coordination
• D. Keep patients in the same unit to avoid transfer

Answer: (B)

Continuity of care is about providing seamless, coordinated care over time with clear communication so the patient never experiences gaps or confusion as care progresses. When care stays within the same department, the care team already shares the same processes, documentation style, and ongoing understanding of the patient’s history, current problems, and treatment plan. This reduces handoffs, minimizes the risk of miscommunication, and helps ensure that the plan remains consistent and aligned with the patient’s needs.

Transferring to another department or facility introduces new teams, workflows, and information systems, which increases the chance of gaps in data or misunderstandings about the plan. Even attempts to keep the same level of care across settings rely on thorough, cross-team coordination, which is more complex and more prone to breakdowns. Keeping care within the same department most effectively preserves continuity in the immediate care environment.