A hospital is a medical care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. It may be public or private, not-for-profit or for-profit, and large or small. Hospitals provide acute care, which is focused on treating illnesses and injuries, as well as preventing disease. Hospitals also offer long-term care and rehabilitation.
Hospitals are often staffed by professionals like physicians, surgeons, nurses and allied health practitioners, but in the past many were run by religious orders or lay volunteers. The word hospital derives from the Latin hospitium, meaning “hospitality”. Hospitals have historically been places of hospitality and welcome for those in need. Some of the earliest hospitals were almshouses for the poor, hostels for travelers or pilgrims, or charitable foundations.
While hospitals are focused on treating patients, they must balance this with the need to be financially viable. Hospitals must collect revenue in order to pay for salaries and other expenses, including supplies and technology. As the costs of health care continue to rise, the financial viability of many hospitals is being questioned. In addition, some hospitals are reporting that they have less money in reserve than they did three decades ago.
In 2022, salaries and benefits accounted for 58% of the money that hospitals collected from serving patients, according to Merritt data. This is the highest percentage in three decades, except during the pandemic. This has made it difficult for some hospitals to maintain the levels of staffing and services they have always provided.
It’s hard to get a good night’s sleep in the hospital. The bright lights and constant chirping of machines can be overwhelming, especially in the case of intensive care units that have a lot of patients with severe conditions. Even in a regular room, blood draws, the beeps of monitors and loud conversations in hallways can disrupt sleep.
Getting out of the hospital as quickly as possible is important for patients. Being in the hospital exposes people to more risk of infection, which can delay recovery and lead to longer stays. It’s also expensive, and in the case of a chronic condition like heart failure or COVID-19, it can even be life-threatening. In some cases, people can stay at home by working with their doctor to manage their condition and follow strict guidelines for safe discharge. Having a hospital indemnity insurance policy can help cover expenses in the event of an unexpected hospital stay. It’s an affordable way to ensure you or your family doesn’t go broke when facing a costly hospitalization.