The CPSA defines “episodic care” as a single encounter with a patient focused on an identified concern or medical condition or on a referred person. Episodic attention works like a patch. It helps for now, but it doesn't address the full picture of a person's health. Patients alternate between urgent care, emergency rooms, and delayed primary care visits. They control symptoms rather than prevent them.
And they often go unnoticed because of a fragmented system. When delivered regularly, episodic services can serve as a foundation for a culture of well-being and, at the same time, be beneficial to employers and employees.
