According to the World Health Organization, 15% of the world's population (approximately 1.1 billion people) identify with some type of disability. A person can have both permanent and episodic disabilities simultaneously; however, there are clear distinctions between the two. An episodic disability is characterized by periods and degrees of well-being and disability that fluctuate over time. We saw the positive impact of remote monitoring programs during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there is evidence that continuous care produces better health outcomes for people living with chronic diseases.
However, we approach the treatment of chronic diseases as we do acute and episodic care. We wait until people are seriously ill and treat the symptoms of a chronic condition rather than addressing the underlying behaviors that aggravate and progress the condition. There is a lack of support for people with long-term episodic disabilities in health care and service systems. Therefore, governments, by introducing laws related to health care, force healthcare providers to migrate from the episodic care model to the continuous care model to treat diseases chronicles.
In accordance with the continuity of care standard of practice, regulated members are responsible for the episodic care provided and for any necessary follow-up care, unless another healthcare provider has formally agreed to assume that responsibility. Traditionally, episodic care was widely adopted as a means of providing healthcare, since this model was simple, easy for health professionals to adopt and implement.
