HOSPITALS | CARE EXTENDED AT HOSPITALS

A Hospital today is a center for professional health care provided by physicians and nurses
Hospitals are generally classified as General Hospital, Specialized Hospital, and Medical Centers.
Acute Care Hospitals: Provides intensive care to patients on a short-term basis. This could also include overnight stay. (Children’s, Adult, and Specialty hospitals)
Chronic Care Hospitals: Provides care on a long term basis. The care provided is not as intensive as that of an Acute Care Unit. (Skilled nursing, Rehabilitative hospital 

CARE EXTENDED AT HOSPITALS 

 Inpatient: A person who is admitted to the hospital so that he may receive care overnight.
Outpatient: A person who receives hospital services but does not need to receive care overnight; outpatients are not admitted but can be under observation for some hours.
Emergency: A person who requires immediate service because the illness is severe or life threatening.

PROVIDER CARE
Primary Care: Involves common health problems; it accounts for 80-90% of all patient care; usually provided at a physician’s private office (immunizations and sore throat).
Secondary Care: Involves illnesses/sickness that requires somewhat specialized care; usually provided at a local hospital (stroke and delivery).
Tertiary Care: Involves the most complex and/or rare diseases that require the most specialized, provider expertise; usually provided at a university teaching hospital or medical center (congenital malformations).