Aim: The aim is to clarify the use of the term continuity in the specific context of acute care hospitalization and discharge. Background: The meaning of "continuity" is often co‐mingled with other concepts, specifically coordination and communication. To increase usefulness for contemporary concerns with the hospitalization‐postdischarge continuum, continuity of care is examined from the specific context of acute hospitalization and discharge. Design Concept analysis. Data Sources: Medline via Ovid, Cochrane Library, Cinahl, and Google Scholar. Search years encompassed 2001–2016. Review Methods: Rodgers evolutionary concept analysis method. Results: A total of 50 papers were included in this concept analysis. Synthesis of findings from these papers resulted in a model of continuity of care that illustrates the hierarchical and interdependent relationship between time and setting, patient‐provider relationships, communication, and coordination in the context of discharge transitions. Conclusion: The continuity model provides a framework to assist in the design of multicomponent, interdisciplinary, integrated interventions that can then be tested for their effect on patient care practices and outcomes. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Continuity of care has been an omnipresent concept in national health‐care discussions.The term continuity of care often overlaps with communication and coordination. This has led to use of the term without clarity of meaning and with difficulty in developing measures of continuity. What this paper adds? A hierarchical relationship was found between 3 dimensions of continuity: patient‐provider relationship, communication, and coordination, as displayed in the continuity model.The continuity model aides in clarifying the meaning of terms and explicates how each dimension builds upon the others with different complementary strategies for achieving continuity of care. The implications of this paper: The new hierarchical conceptualization of the continuity model provides a framework for designing multicomponent, interdisciplinary interventions to improve continuity of care within health‐care systems. Assurance that all 3 components are in place should increase the likelihood of cohesive care and impact the plan of care, patient safety, readmission, and satisfaction.Future measurement strategies should include all 3 dimensions to adequately evaluate continuity and its impact on outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]