definition
strict definition
hospital
A medical facility for intensive treatment and emergency care, with beds for extended patient stays.
Pictured: Rigshospitalet
A hospital is a place for intensive care and treatment of medical patients, with facilities for long-term stays. Hospitals are generally equipped to treat a variety of medical emergencies, and also to provide extended care for ailments that require intensive medical supervision.
Often some religious affiliation can be assigned to a hospital.
The combination of treatment and facilities for longer stays distinguishes the hospital from an outpatient office. Ownership, teaching activity, and particular patient groups provide more specific hospital distinctions.
hospital Photos
More specific definitions
5 sub-definitions-
children's hospital
A hospital providing intensive treatment and facilities for extended stays to children and often adolescents. -
government hospital
A general-care hospital operated by a government or government-owned organization, excluding military and veterans hospitals. -
private hospital
A general-care hospital operated by a non-governmental and non-educational organization. -
teaching hospital
A general-care hospital operated by an educational institution to train medical students. -
veterans hospital
A hospital providing medical treatment and facilities for extended stays to people with military service records.
Related definitions
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inpatient clinic
A facility providing medically supervised housing for long-term or recovering patients. -
psychiatric hospital
A hospital providing extended stays or indefinite residence for psychiatric or psychotherapeutic treatment. -
sanatorium
A residential medical facility for long-term intensive care, recuperation, or isolation of contagious disease.