health related period during which care activities are performed to address one health issue as identified by one care professional
Period where a urinary tract infection is managed.
Period where a cholecystectomy is performed.
Figure 92 — episode of care (UML Representation)
An episode of care encompasses all care activities related to the same health issue.
An episode of care starts with the very initial contact with a care provider for a health matter and it ends after the completion of all care activity periods related to the last contact with that care provider for the same health matter.
For practical reasons (e.g. the need to state start and end dates) and also because it relates specifically to a health issue defined by a given care professional, an episode of care does not necessarily coincide with an “episode of illness” (or an episode of disease), or an episode of any other kind of health issue.
During a mandated period of care several health issues may be handled and as such be linked to several episodes of care. These episodes of care are said to be “concurrent”.