Medical treatment and support given to a patient after surgery, hospital discharge, or completing a rehabilitation program.
Compound of 'after' and 'care' (Old English carian, 'to care'). Became a standard medical term in the 20th century as hospitals recognized the importance of post-treatment recovery.
Aftercare is often the difference between a successful recovery and complications—studies show that patients with strong aftercare plans have better outcomes than those who simply go home after treatment. It's preventive medicine's quieter sibling.
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