A hospital is a place where sick people stay overnight and longer for treatment. Doctors often advise hospitalization if a disease is severe or life-threatening. A hospital is also a center for medical research to advance health care.
A large assortment of specialized technologies and equipment enable hospitals to diagnose and treat many different diseases and injuries. In addition, hospital staff may be trained to handle many aspects of patient care. Hospitals can be divided into a number of subtypes, including specialty hospitals such as rehabilitation and children’s (geriatric) hospitals and hospitals that deal with certain disease categories such as cancer or heart (cardiovascular) problems. Hospitals can be located either in cities or towns and sometimes in rural areas.
Patients can choose a hospital for their care based on the ratings and rankings provided by various organizations, such as U.S. News & World Report and Castle Connolly’s Top Hospitals. These organizations crunch numbers to rate hospitals based on things like patient outcomes, adequate staffing, clinically proven tools, expert opinions, safety and readmission rates.
When choosing a hospital, patients should keep in mind that the ratings and rankings of hospitals may be biased or flawed. For example, a hospital may have high infection rates because of its meticulous approach to treating patients, while another may have a lower number of infections because it treats more patients. Nonetheless, they can provide useful information that can be used in conjunction with your doctor’s recommendations and online research to make the best decision for your healthcare needs.
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