What does 'transitional care' refer to?

Transitional care specifically refers to the coordination and management of health care as patients move between different treatment settings. This type of care is crucial for ensuring continuity and comprehensiveness in the patient’s health management as they transition, for example, from hospital to home, or from one healthcare facility to another.

Effective transitional care aims to minimize the risk of errors and complications that can occur during these transitions, ensuring that patients receive consistent and coherent support throughout their entire health care journey. This includes medication management, follow-up appointments, and patient education, all tailored to the patient's individual needs in the new setting.

The other options provided focus on narrower concepts that do not encompass the broader scope of transitional care, highlighting the specific importance of coordinated care across different health care settings.