Proper medical care is essential during the recovery stage. Whether long-term or short-term care, choosing proper medical care can often help accelerate the healing process. The decision between an acute care physician clinic or a long-term care facility depends on the amount of medical attention needed and the expected recovery time.
Acute Care Physician Centers
The ABC News health care glossary describes acute care as short-term treatment for an immediate illnesses or disability. Examples of short-term treatment include treatment for accident injuries or trauma, and recovery from outpatient surgery.
Acute care physician clinics are mainly urgent care clinics and hospitals. They provide both medical and surgical services. Most acute care hospitals provide medial services to all individuals regardless of their ability to pay at the time of service. Emergency rooms are examples of emergency acute care centers.
Long-Term Care
Medical and non-medical care for people who have a chronic illness or disability is defined as long-term care, according to Medicare.gov. Long-term care is designed to assist people with day-to-day activates such as bathing, exercise, eating and dressing.
Long-term care is extensive and involved. If needed, long-term care is recommended after the initial acute treatment, and can be provided for in one's home, an assisted living facility, a day center or a nursing home. Long-term care recipients are those who have the greatest medical needs. Examples of people needing long-term care are those who have suffered severe accidents, stroke victims and the mentally impaired.
Planning Proper Care
The need for acute care often happens instantly, but long-term care takes careful planning. In some cases, acute care physicians will deem long-term medical care necessary. For example, a physician may require that a leg injury victim go though physical therapy to strengthen their walking ability. Short-term medial care is often directly administered by physicians or other trained medical professionals. Long-term care may be necessary for a number of years or the duration of the patient's life. The need for care depends on the severity of the illness. Due to the extensive needs of long-term care patients, the costs can be very high and will often require good insurance coverage.
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