An essential part of the health care services, they are also the most expensive part. Anytime someone suffers a physical or mental ailment that cannot be managed on an ambulatory basis, admission to an inpatient facility is sought. The main distinction between ambulatory and inpatient care is the degree of dependency involved, varying from simple hotel functions to intensive care functions. Overall, health status, as expressed in demographic indicators such as life expectancy, avoidance of disabilities and collective health conditions, is primarily improved through promotive and preventive interventions in social and environmental conditions. The impact of hospital services is predominantly on easing suffering and improving the quality of life through restorative and rehabilitative care.
Health services are currently in transition.
Hospitals have always been a major source of information for health development. In some countries, they now form part of a local or district health systems' network. They are developing partnerships with primary and post-discharge care providers, supporting referral services and participating in the health debate. Increasing autonomy, corporatization and full or partial privatization have been moving public hospitals out of traditional civil service organizational patterns, while there is an increase in nongovernmental hospitals all over the world. The study of the contributions that hospitals can make to improving health status.