Continuity of care
Clinical reviewer: Elena Gizzi, MSN, RN · Last checked September 24, 2026
What is continuity of care?
Continuity of care is the process by which a patient and their physician-led care team work together over time toward safe, high-quality, cost-effective medical care. It supports trusting patient-physician relationships and lets a physician draw on what they already know of a patient's history, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
How does the AAFP define continuity of care?
Continuity of care is the process by which a patient and their physician-led care team are cooperatively involved in ongoing health care management toward safe, high-quality, cost-effective care, per the American Academy of Family Physicians [1]. It is rooted in a long-term patient-physician partnership in which the physician knows the patient's history and can integrate new information from a whole-person perspective [1]. The AAFP says it supports trusting patient-physician relationships and allows for early recognition of potential problems [1].
Why does continuity of care matter?
Continuity of care is associated with increased patient satisfaction, increased take-up of health promotion, greater adherence to medical advice, and decreased use of hospital services [2]. A 2018 systematic review of 22 eligible studies from nine countries found that 18 (81.8%) reported statistically significant reductions in mortality with increased continuity, in both generalist and specialist care; three showed no association and one showed mixed results [2]. All of this evidence is observational [2].
Frequently asked questions
Does continuity of care prove that seeing the same doctor lowers your risk of death?+−
No. The 2018 review found an association between more continuity and lower mortality in most studies, but all the evidence was observational, not proof of cause and effect.
What does continuity of care look like in practice?+−
The American Academy of Family Physicians describes a long-term partnership in which the physician knows the patient's history from experience and can fit new information and decisions into a whole-person view.
Related terms
Sources
This entry is for education and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.
