A hospital is an institution that provides care for people who are sick. Its services include medical assessments, medication, and daily treatment. Hospitals can be privately owned or run as not-for-profits. Government-supported hospitals, such as Veterans’ Administration and Department of Defense hospitals, operate through public funds.
In the United States, approximately 5,534 hospitals are registered with the American Hospital Association (AHA). Of these, 51 percent are not-for-profit. Not-for-profit hospitals are required to operate financially sound and be viable, but they are not required to earn profit. This allows them to invest their excess funding in research, staff, and new technology.
Modern hospitals are often centers for clinical research and teaching. They also provide diagnostic and rehabilitation services. Some modern facilities also provide emergency services.
Medical staff may include nurses, physicians, and therapists. Allied health professionals, such as respiratory therapists, also provide services to patients. Physical therapists help patients recover from surgery. The patient’s room usually includes a bed, television, phone, and a bathroom. However, some rooms are shared with other patients.
Nurses are responsible for taking vital signs and identifying problems. They will perform tests such as a urine test, which checks for bacteria or sugar. Other samples, such as blood, will be tested depending on the reason the patient is in the hospital. Depending on the hospital, patients can stay for treatment in a surgical or medical unit.
Many patients may need to spend time in the hospital, and their visit can have a big impact on their lives. They may need to miss school or other activities, or they may be required to stay in the hospital for weeks. During this time, their quality of life and confidence may suffer.
Patients may also need to pay for their own expenses. Hospitals can be funded by local government, private endowments, Medicare, Medicaid, or other sources. Their operating costs may be supplemented by the payments of uninsured patients or by out-of-pocket payments by private insurers.
Hospitals are essential for the development of the healthcare system. They are a key component of a referral network and a key player in community outreach. Increasingly, health service managers are concerned with cost.
Today, hospitals are being merged into larger, integrated health facilities. These facilities typically contain multiple locations, and have more beds. Most modern hospitals are staffed with highly trained professionals who provide technical intensive services.
Keeping a hospital running requires a lot of organization and administration. This is why it is important to ask questions when you need to. Although hospital staff will use abbreviations and other jargon, it is always a good idea to ask. That way, you know what you are getting.
It is also a good idea to ask what the different departments do. For example, you should know what happens when there is a fire. You should also know how the hospital handles the spread of antibiotics and infection. If the hospital has an infectious disease outbreak, for instance, the infection control department will analyze the data and investigate any associated clusters.