What is the purpose of the continuity of care record (CCR)?

The continuity of care record (CCR) serves the crucial role of communicating a patient's health information during transitions of care. It is specifically designed to provide healthcare providers with a comprehensive snapshot of the patient's medical history, current medications, allergies, and other pertinent health information to ensure coordination and continuity in patient care. This is especially important when a patient moves between different healthcare settings, such as from a hospital to a primary care provider or to specialist care.

By facilitating the effective exchange of information, the CCR helps prevent information gaps that could lead to medical errors, duplicative testing, or unnecessary treatments. It is an essential tool to enhance the quality of care and improve patient safety by ensuring that all involved parties have access to the relevant information about the patient’s health status.

The other options do not align with the primary function of the CCR. For instance, capturing billing information is not its purpose, nor is it focused on documenting procedures performed during a specific visit or solely tracking patient outcomes. Thus, the CCR directly aims to enhance communication and coordination during key transitions in the patient's care journey.