To what does stratified care primarily refer?

• A. To classify patients by geographic location.
• B. To classify patients in levels of risk for chronicity and adjust Plan of Care.
• C. To treat every patient with the same therapy.
• D. To base care solely on patient preference.

Answer: (D)

Stratified care focuses on matching the intensity of care to a patient’s level of risk for developing chronic or persistent problems. Clinicians assess factors that predict worse outcomes—such as how long symptoms have lasted, psychosocial stressors, comorbidities, and how much function is affected—and then group patients into risk levels. The plan of care is adjusted accordingly: higher-risk individuals get closer monitoring, more intensive or multidisciplinary interventions, and earlier escalation if needed; lower-risk individuals may start with less intensive approaches and education, with ongoing reassessment.

Classifying patients by geographic location isn’t what this approach emphasizes, since location doesn’t inherently reflect risk for chronicity. Treating every patient with the same therapy ignores differences in risk and needs. While patient preferences matter for shared decision-making, basing care solely on what a patient prefers overlooks the critical role of risk stratification in guiding appropriate intensity and resources.