Community care
Community Care
Community care (/kəˈmjuːnɪti keər/) is a term used in the field of healthcare to describe a system or approach that emphasizes the provision of healthcare services in a community setting, rather than in a centralized hospital or clinic.
Etymology
The term "community care" is derived from the English words "community", which refers to a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common, and "care", which refers to the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.
Definition
Community care involves the provision of healthcare services by a team of healthcare professionals in a community setting. This can include services such as primary care, preventive care, chronic disease management, rehabilitation, and palliative care. The goal of community care is to provide patient-centered care that is accessible, comprehensive, and coordinated.
Related Terms
- Primary Care: This is the day-to-day healthcare given by a health care provider. It is where people receive care for most of their everyday health needs.
- Preventive Care: This involves measures taken for disease prevention, as opposed to disease treatment.
- Chronic Disease Management: This is an integrated care approach to managing illness which includes screenings, check-ups, monitoring and coordinating treatment, and patient education.
- Rehabilitation: This is a treatment or treatments designed to facilitate the process of recovery from injury, illness, or disease to as normal a condition as possible.
- Palliative Care: This is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness.
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