Some patients go to a hospital just for diagnosis, treatment, or therapy and then leave (" outpatients") without staying overnight while others are "admitted" and stay overnight or for several days or weeks or months (" inpatients"). The German word Spital shares similar roots. ![]() The latter modern word derives from Latin via the Old French romance word hostel, which developed a silent s, which letter was eventually removed from the word, the loss of which is signified by a circumflex in the modern French word hôtel. Hospes is thus the root for the English words host (where the p was dropped for convenience of pronunciation) hospitality, hospice, hostel, and hotel. By metonymy, the Latin word then came to mean a guest-chamber, guest's lodging, an inn. Another noun derived from this, hospitium came to signify hospitality, that is the relation between guest and shelterer, hospitality, friendliness, and hospitable reception. The word "hospital" comes from the Latin hospes, signifying a stranger or foreigner, hence a guest. During times of armed conflict, a hospital may be marked with the emblem of the red cross, red crescent or red crystal in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.ĭuring the Middle Ages, hospitals served different functions from modern institutions in that they were almshouses for the poor, hostels for pilgrims, or hospital schools. For example, a white 'H' on a blue background is often used in the United States. In accordance with the original meaning of the word, hospitals were original "places of hospitality", and this meaning is still preserved in the names of some institutions such as the Royal Hospital Chelsea, established in 1681 as a retirement and nursing home for veteran soldiers.Įtymology During peacetime, hospitals can be indicated by a variety of symbols. ![]() However, there are various Catholic religious orders, such as the Alexians and the Bon Secours Sisters that still focus on hospital ministry in the late 1990s, as well as several other Christian denominations, including the Methodists and Lutherans, which run hospitals. Ĭurrently, hospitals are largely staffed by professional physicians, surgeons, nurses, and allied health practitioners, whereas in the past, this work was usually performed by the members of founding religious orders or by volunteers. Historically, hospitals were often founded and funded by religious orders, or by charitable individuals and leaders. Hospitals are typically funded by public funding, health organisations ( for-profit or nonprofit), health insurance companies, or charities, including direct charitable donations. Common support units include a pharmacy, pathology, and radiology. Some hospitals have outpatient departments and some have chronic treatment units. surgery and urgent care) and specialist units such as cardiology. Hospitals have a range of departments (e.g. A health science facility smaller than a hospital is generally called a clinic. Hospitals are classified as general, specialty, or government depending on the sources of income received.Ī teaching hospital combines assistance to people with teaching to health science students and auxiliary healthcare students. Specialized hospitals can help reduce health care costs compared to general hospitals. Specialized hospitals include trauma centers, rehabilitation hospitals, children's hospitals, seniors' ( geriatric) hospitals, and hospitals for dealing with specific medical needs such as psychiatric treatment (see psychiatric hospital) and certain disease categories. A district hospital typically is the major health care facility in its region, with many beds for intensive care and additional beds for patients who need long-term care. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emergency department to treat urgent health problems ranging from fire and accident victims to a sudden illness. ![]() A hospital is a healthcare institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment.
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