This includes acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home health care service providers. Acute care hospitals is the largest sector which encompasses for profit and non profit providers. Rehabilitation hospitals provide health care to patients who've experienced traumatic situations such as strokes , head injuries, orthopedic problems, and even alcoholic abuse. Psychiatric Hospitals provide mental health services to patients who suffer from mental disorders. These services can include individual therapy, group therapy, and educational programs.
Hospitals are under considerable pressure to keep their costs under control.
One way of achieving this policy is to shift more from inpatient care to out patient care. The reasons for the decline in inpatient care are economical, technological, and social. Hospitals are shifting more of the burden to lower cost facilities who can provide better care. Second, cost efficient delivery systems have a tendency to reduce costs such as advances in medical equipment. Third, many people have a perception that outpatient care may provide better individual attention to patients.