A systematic review on the effectiveness of continuity of care and its role in patient satisfaction and decreased hospital readmissions in the adult patient receiving home care services.

Background: Continuity of care, a concept that in its broadest terms describes patient and provider coordination across time and settings, has evidenced a positive correlation with patient satisfaction and hospital readmission rates. Home health care, where patients receive care from a variety of healthcare practitioners, is one area where these measures are being investigated to determine the effectiveness of continuity of care.

Objective: To examine and synthesize the best available evidence related to the effectiveness of continuity of care interventions and their impact on patient satisfaction and all-cause hospital readmissions rates in the adult patient who is receiving home care services.