The continuum of care in a general hospital setting.

Service delivery in behavioral health is shifting from the traditional two-tiered model of care that has favored inpatient and outpatient treatment. In its place, a new paradigm based upon a broad and fluid continuum of services is now becoming recognized for its contributions to quality of care and efficiency in contemporary system design. This article provides an overview of the forces that have stimulated the development of continuum-based programs and services. The characteristics of an effective continuum are discussed as well as barriers that impede its development. Finally, the evolving levels of care within the continuum are addressed and an integrated continuum model is presented.