Health Care Settings: Continuum of Care

Vocabulary terms covering health care settings, government and voluntary agencies, types of hospitals, and levels of care according to Carroll/Collier nursing curriculum.

Public Health Care Agencies

Agencies supported by tax money and accountable to the government, with a primary emphasis on disease prevention and wellness promotion programs.

Voluntary Health Care Agencies

Nonprofit organizations supported by voluntary contributions that are complementary to official government agencies and emphasize research and education.

Private Health Care Agencies

Profit or nonprofit institutions that charge a fee for services and have focused primarily on curing disease and illness over the last decade.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

A federal agency funded by federal taxes, headed by a presidential appointee, and consisting of eleven operating divisions.

U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS)

A group of eight agencies including the FDA, CDC, NIH, HRSA, SAMHSA, AHRQ, ATSDR, and IHS.

World Health Organization (WHO)

An agency of the United Nations funded by member nations that acts as the coordinating authority on international public health.

Proprietary Hospitals

For-profit hospitals operated for the financial benefit of the owner and investors.

Primary Care

The point at which people usually enter the health care system; examples include family physicians and free clinics.

Teaching and Research Hospitals

Facilities that treat clients with serious or unusual conditions, serve as training sites for health professionals, and develop new treatments.

Critical Access Hospitals

Rural facilities with no more than 25 inpatient beds that provide care for common conditions and outpatients.

Ambulatory Services

Care settings that offer less expensive alternatives to acute care facility admission, including outpatient clinics and urgent care centers.

Urgent Care Centers

Ambulatory care facilities available for walk-in clients who do not have an appointment.

One-day Surgical Care Centers

Facilities that perform surgery at a scheduled date and time without requiring an overnight stay.

Free Clinics

Alternative primary care providers for those who cannot afford traditional services, often featuring age or income limits and volunteer staff.

Skilled Nursing Facility

A long-term care facility where services and supplies are provided by or under the supervision of skilled or licensed nursing personnel.

Personal Care

Long-term care services and supplies that can be safely and reasonably provided by individuals who are neither trained nor licensed.