Continuum of Care: The Importance of Seamless, Uninterrupted Care

In life, especially when it comes to health, there are no guarantees. Things can change day-to-day and having a support system, as well as health care system you can rely on, makes overcoming each hurdle a bit easier.

When you or your loved one has been diagnosed with a serious or chronic illness, or are simply progressing through the natural aging process, the ability to access a continuum of care takes on a greater importance. An integrated health system can provide seamless transitions as your needs change, rather than trying to piece together your health care like a puzzle. Not only does having a team of health care professionals alleviate some burden from you as the caregiver, it better prepares you or your loved one with quality health care in the future. MJHS Health System anticipates the needs of our patients and residents.  We provide a vast array of health services to address your loved one’s changing health condition, including:

• Nursing care at home – MJHS has a certified home health agency that cares for patients living in the Greater New York area. Our home care nurses provide care for patients who have recently been discharged from the hospital or have complex medical conditions like CHF or COPD. They coordinate with patients and physicians to develop a plan of care that may include supervising a home health aide, managing medications, education on disease-specific conditions, and much more.
• Rehabilitation after surgery or illness – Depending on your unique circumstances, you can choose to recuperate at home with support from our MJHS Home Care program or at one of our centers for rehabilitation and nursing care. Recovery after joint replacement, heart attack, stroke, or a prolonged illness. s are just a few examples of how our Recovery Rehabilitation Program can help.
• Long-term care services – MJHS has always been committed to helping patients retain quality of life by providing the care they need to remain safely in their own home, whenever possible. For some patients with chronic illness or disability who require assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and meal preparation, MJHS is able to provide this support at home. When staying at home is no long safe or possible, however, we can provide care and medical support at one of or centers for rehabilitation and nursing care.
• Palliative and hospice care – Both of these options are types of comfort care, which MJHS provides with expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes. Comfort care is aimed at improving quality of life while your loved one is dealing with a serious or life-limiting illness. Hospice focuses on caring, not curing, and provides support to the patient’s family as well.

What is Continuum of Care? Why is it Important?

Essentially a continuum of care is a system that provides a comprehensive range of health services, so that care can evolve with the patient over time. With the understanding that a patient’s health may be most vulnerable during gaps in care, the continuum of care exists to ensure those gaps are filled.

The concept of continuum of care is not a universal feature of all systems.  It is, however, a defining characteristic of MJHS Health System. Our continuum of care model successfully manages and supports a person’s medical care through life’s transitions.  Whether that care requires any or a combination of the services listed above, our teams works in unison through each phase.

The central benefit of having a wide range of health services under one umbrella is that should a medical condition change or worsen, the transition to a different type of care is seamless. This is particularly valuable if you have a chronic condition such as Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).  MJHS offers an array of services with the patient’s needs at their core.  So, when a patient experiences a change in condition and requires additional l services, MJHS, can make that much easier for the patient and their loved ones. Available televised services also help to ensure care goes uninterrupted, even during a global pandemic like COVID-19.

We Understand, and We Care

At MJHS, we value both personal and professional caregivers and recognize the critical work you do. That is why we have created these online caregiving resources to help you through this crucial time in your life. If you need additional help and support caring for your loved one, please feel free to contact MJHS. We can recommend other care options available to you through one of our programs.