Critical access hospital
Critical Access Hospital
A Critical Access Hospital (kri-ti-kəl ˈak-ses ˈhäs-pi-tᵊl) is a type of healthcare facility that is designed to provide acute care services to patients in rural areas. The term "Critical Access Hospital" is specific to the United States, where it is a designation given by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Etymology
The term "Critical Access Hospital" originates from the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which established the Critical Access Hospital Program. The program was designed to reduce the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals and improve access to healthcare by keeping essential services in rural communities.
Definition
A Critical Access Hospital is a hospital that is located in a rural area, has no more than 25 inpatient beds, and is located at least 35 miles from another hospital (or 15 miles in areas with mountainous terrain or only secondary roads). These hospitals provide 24/7 emergency care services and are reimbursed by CMS on a cost-based system, rather than the standard prospective payment system used for most hospitals.
Related Terms
- Acute Care: A branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery.
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): A federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers the nation's major healthcare programs.
- Rural Health: Health issues and care that are of concern to people living in rural areas and remote regions.
- Healthcare Facility: A place that provides healthcare services.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Critical access hospital
- Wikipedia's article - Critical access hospital
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