Constance R. Uphold
Associate Director of Implementation and Outcomes Research, Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center,
Tanzania
Editorial
Transitional Care for Older Adults: The Need for New Approaches to Support Family Caregivers
Author(s): Constance R. Uphold
Constance R. Uphold
The importance of high quality transitional care in improving the outcomes of patients and families has gained increased attention. Transitional care is defined as actions designed to ensure coordination and continuity of care between levels of health care and across care settings. It is well known that when patients move between care settings untoward events often occur. For example, poor transitions in care can result in low patient satisfaction, serious medication errors, and increased use of emergency room services and unnecessary ambulatory care visits. In addition, lack of quality transitional care can result in high rates of rapid hospital readmissions -- the majority of which are potentially preventable. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to breakdown in continuity and coordination of care between settings, because they have multiple chr.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2167-7182.1000e107