Health facilities

Health facilities (pronunciation: /ˈhɛlθ fəˈsɪlɪtiz/) are places that provide health care. They include hospitals, clinics, outpatient care centers, and specialized care centers, such as birthing centers and psychiatric care centers.

Etymology

The term "health facility" is derived from the Old English "hǣlth", meaning "wholeness, a being whole, sound or well," and the Latin "facilitas", meaning "ease, easiness, readiness, fluency, promptitude."

Types of Health Facilities

Hospitals: These are complex health care facilities that provide diagnostic and therapeutic services.

Clinics: These are health facilities that handle outpatient services. They are usually specialized in a specific type of care, such as eye care or dental care.

Outpatient care centers: These facilities provide health care for people who do not require hospitalization and who can be released after treatment.

Specialized care centers: These are health facilities that provide specialized treatment, such as birthing centers, psychiatric care centers, and rehabilitation centers.

Related Terms

Primary care: This is the day-to-day healthcare given by a health care provider. It is where most people first seek treatment.

Secondary care: This is care provided by medical specialists and other health professionals who do not have first contact with patients.

Tertiary care: This is specialized consultative healthcare, usually for inpatients and on referral from a primary or secondary health professional.

Quaternary care: This is an extension of tertiary care in reference to advanced levels of medicine which are highly specialized and not widely accessed.