HOSPITALS TODAY DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION OF ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS Acute care is a level of health care in which a patient is treated for a brief but severe episode of illness, for conditions

Acute care is a level of health care in which a patient is treated for a brief but severe episode of illness, for conditions that are the result of disease or trauma, and during recovery from surgery. Acute care is generally provided in a hospital by a variety of clinical personnel using technical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies. According to Connecticut public health code that regulates hospitals, an acute care hospital is defined as a short-term hospital that has facilities, medical staff and all necessary personnel to provide diagnosis, care and treatment of a wide range of acute conditions, including injuries. There are thirty-one acute care hospitals in Connecticut, including one short-term children’s hospital. In addition to acute care hospitals, there are several other types of hospitals including chronic disease, hospice, and hospitals for persons with mental illness.This study pertains only to the thirty-one acute care hospitals in the state, hereafter referred to simply as “hospitals.”