Describe a transitions of care program's purpose in care coordination.

• A. Ensure continuity of care across settings
• B. Increase fragmentation of care
• C. Limit patient follow-up after discharge
• D. Focus only on inpatient care

Answer: (A)

Continuity of care across settings is the central aim of transitions of care programs. These programs coordinate information, medications, care plans, and follow-up appointments as a patient moves from hospital to home or another setting, ensuring everyone involved has the same plan and understands the next steps. By smoothing handoffs between inpatient, outpatient, and community care, they reduce gaps, errors, and duplications, and help prevent readmissions.

The other ideas conflict with this purpose: increasing fragmentation would create more communication gaps and disjointed care; limiting follow-up after discharge undermines safety and ongoing management; and focusing only on inpatient care ignores the vital transition to outpatient or home-based care that is essential for continuity.