US Medical Term · insurance
Episode of Care
Episodio de atención
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Episode of Care |
| Spanish (Español) | Episodio de atención |
| Chinese (中文) | 照護期程 |
| Korean (한국어) | 치료 에피소드 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Giai đoạn chăm sóc |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Episode of care |
| Portuguese (Português) | Episódio de cuidado |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ช่วงการดูแลรักษา |
| Japanese (日本語) | ケアエピソード |
What it means
An episode of care refers to all the healthcare services a patient receives for a specific health condition or medical event within a defined period — from the initial encounter through recovery. For example, a knee replacement episode might include the pre-surgery consultation, the surgery itself, hospital stay, physical therapy, and follow-up visits. Insurers and employers increasingly use episode-of-care payments (bundled payments) as a cost-control method. Understanding this concept helps patients know which services are included in a bundled payment arrangement and what falls outside the episode and may be billed separately.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
What services are included in the episode of care for my knee surgery?
¿Qué servicios están incluidos en el episodio de atención por mi cirugía de rodilla?
How long does the episode of care last for my treatment?
¿Cuánto tiempo dura el episodio de atención para mi tratamiento?
Will all my follow-up visits be covered under this episode of care?
¿Todas mis visitas de seguimiento estarán cubiertas dentro de este episodio de atención?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026