Healthcare spending is increasing in all developed countries, but access to care has declined, and trust has eroded, especially in publicly funded healthcare systems. Chronic diseases consume most healthcare resources and are a critical starting point for improving care. While prior research highlights the positive impact of continuity of care on the effectiveness of care delivery, the field lacks well-defined constructs and testable theories to operationalize this concept. This study addresses this gap by developing a conceptual model for continuity of care tailored to chronic disease management. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews and focus groups with healthcare experts in Finland's private and public sectors, we conduct inductive research that identifies the essential constructs of chronic care continuity. Our findings suggest two causal relationships. The first links system architecture to continuity of care. The second addresses the relationship between care pathway design and continuity of care. These relationships are moderated by care process management, which may adopt two distinct approaches: the relational and codification strategies. This conceptual model provides actionable insights to enhance continuity of care and improve outcomes for patients with chronic conditions.
