A hospital is a medical facility that provides around-the-clock care and treatment to patients. Its healthcare professionals monitor patients and provide them with medical services like surgeries, emergency care and labor and delivery assistance. Hospitals are also equipped with diagnostic tools and equipment like X-ray machines, ultrasound and blood tests to diagnose health issues. Some hospitals offer specialized care in areas like pediatrics, gynecology and oncology.
Besides treating patients, hospitals also provide medical education and research. They may be funded by government agencies, private businesses or charities like direct donations. The best hospitals are those that can provide high-quality healthcare to their patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
The first modern hospitals were established in the 16th century and were often sponsored by the church. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII, secular support became necessary for the advancement of hospitals.
Most hospitals are subsidized by government or for-profit health agencies and health insurance providers. In the United States, for example, the National Health Service offers state-funded healthcare for all legal citizens without charge for any type of treatment at public hospitals. Private health insurance companies and charities may also provide funding for specific hospitals to help pay for patient costs or for hospital-construction projects.
Hospitals can be very large buildings with many different departments and facilities. Finding your way around can be confusing, especially if you’re visiting for the first time. To make your visit easier, look for maps near the entrance and follow signs to the department you’re trying to reach. Some treatment areas, such as operating rooms and intensive care units, may be off limits to visitors.
A hospital’s nursing department is responsible for the patient’s healthcare and safety. It is led by a director of nursing or a chief nurse. The department may also be supervised by the medical director of the hospital. Some hospitals also have a dietary department, information technology department and clinical engineering department.
When you’re looking for the best hospital, consider its reputation and whether it has the latest equipment. The top hospitals in the world are known for their quality of care, which is measured through international accreditations, patient satisfaction surveys and medical key performance indicators. Those that consistently deliver the highest level of care are given awards by medical organizations and governments alike. The world’s top-ranked hospital in 2019 was Rochester’s Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore rounded out the top five. In Europe, Sweden’s Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset took sixth place, while Germany’s Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin placed eighth. In 2021, UCLA Health – Ronald Reagan Medical Center in Los Angeles was named one of the world’s top 10 hospitals. The Mayo Clinic was also named the number one US hospital by Newsweek.