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What Are the Different Types of Hospitals That Exist Today?

There are over 13,000 hospitals throughout the United States.

When you have a medical emergency or a serious health need, it’s critical to choose the best hospital for you. You’ll need to consider things like cost, specializations, and reputation.

Yet what are the different types of hospitals out there, and how do you know which one is right for you?

Let’s take a look.

Academic Hospitals

When you’re in need of special care, it’s easy to just look up “hospital near me” and head on over.

However, it’s important to know that hospitals have different specialties. An Academic hospital, for example, may serve a particular school or university. It offers healthcare services to those in the community while providing opportunities for those studying to go into the healthcare field to learn their jobs.

Visiting an academic hospital means that you’ll enjoy access to new cures and treatments, as well as state-of-the-art technology. You’ll also get care from some well-established physicians in the field.

Children’s Hospitals

Children’s hospitals specialize in the care and treatment of patients under 18 years old. In addition to specialized medical treatment, they provide psychosocial support for children and their families. This is especially necessary when children require long-term care.

Everyone working at a children’s hospital, from physicians to pharmacists to nurses, is specially trained in dealing with the unique needs of children. This includes minimizing anxiety and using the latest and safest technology. The decor and entertainment available are also usually geared toward children.

Acute Hospitals

If you have short-term needs, an acute hospital might be the place to go for optimal health. They treat people who are recovering from illnesses, injuries, or surgeries. 

Acute hospitals are designed to help with transitory care. They can assist with things like medication management, oxygen administration, and physical therapy

Individuals who visit acute hospitals are less likely to experience complications. And visiting one is favorable to long-term stays at other facilities.

Ambulatory Surgery Center

An ambulatory surgery center is designed to help with same-day surgery care. They can offer surgical procedures to patients without requiring them to be admitted into a hospital for the operation or recovery.

Ambulatory centers are cost-effective and provide a less stressful environment for patients. They provide individualized services and high-quality outcomes.

Clinics

Clinics are a bit different from traditional hospitals because they work on an outpatient basis. They are much smaller and don’t keep patients overnight for observation, diagnosis, or observation.

Clinics provide high-quality, cost-effective care. They have experts available who can improve outcomes for their patients. Examples include mental health clinics, sexual health clinics, and addiction services clinics.

Types of Hospitals

If you need medical treatment, it’s important to know about the types of hospitals available for care. With the right facility and the right treatment, you could be back on your feet in no time.

For more information on your health and lifestyle, read our blog today.