What is the definition of a 'care transition' in healthcare?

The definition of a 'care transition' in healthcare specifically refers to the movement of patients between healthcare providers or settings. This transition can occur for a variety of reasons, such as moving from a hospital to a rehabilitation facility, from a hospital to home care, or switching between different healthcare providers for ongoing management of care.

Effective care transitions are critical in ensuring continuity of care and reducing the risk of complications or readmissions. They often involve communication between different healthcare teams and careful planning to coordinate the patient’s ongoing needs.

The other options do not capture the full scope of what care transition entails. For example, treatment exclusively at home is a specific setting rather than a transition. The transfer of medical records to insurance companies is an administrative process rather than a transition of care involving patients themselves. Lastly, while the shift from inpatient to outpatient care is a type of transition, it is too narrow and does not encompass the broad range of movements between various care settings and providers that might occur.