What aspect of health care delivery does continuity of care mainly address?

Continuity of care primarily addresses patient treatment pathways. This concept refers to the ongoing process of care provided to patients, ensuring that they receive consistent, coordinated, and well-timed interventions throughout their healthcare experiences. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a seamless flow of care across different services, providers, and settings, which is crucial for improving patient outcomes and enhancing the overall patient experience.

When patients move between different levels of care or different healthcare providers, continuity of care helps ensure that their treatment plans are properly communicated and followed. This reduces the risk of fragmented care, where information may be lost between different stages of treatment, leading to inefficiencies and potential health risks for patients. By focusing on treatment pathways, healthcare providers can foster better relationships with patients and create a more efficient system that supports patient needs throughout their healthcare journey.

The other options relate to important aspects of healthcare delivery but do not directly focus on the continuity of care as it pertains to the management of patient treatment pathways. Hospital administration policies, insurance coverage options, and cost management strategies are important for the overall function of healthcare systems but do not specifically address the seamless transition and coordination of patient care that continuity of care aims to achieve.