A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with

specialized medical and nursing staff and medical equipment. The best-known
type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emergency
department to treat urgent health problems ranging from fire and accident victims
to a sudden illness. A district hospital typically is the major health care facility in
its region, with many beds for intensive care and additional beds for patients who
need long-term care. Specialized hospitals include trauma centers, rehabilitation
hospitals, children's hospitals, seniors' (geriatric) hospitals, and hospitals for
dealing with specific medical needs such as psychiatric treatment and certain
disease categories. Specialized hospitals can help reduce health care costs
compared to general hospitals. Hospitals are classified as general, specialty, or
government depending on the sources of income received.
A teaching hospital combines assistance to people with teaching to
medical students and nurses. A medical facility smaller than a hospital is
generally called a clinic. Hospitals have a range of departments (e.g. surgery and
urgent care) and specialist units such as cardiology. Some hospitals have
outpatient departments and some have chronic treatment units. Common support
units include a pharmacy, pathology, and radiology.
Hospitals are usually funded by the public sector, health organisations (for
profit or nonprofit), health insurance companies, or charities, including direct
charitable donations. Historically, hospitals were often founded and funded by
religious orders, or by charitable individuals and leaders.
Currently, hospitals are largely staffed by professional physicians,
surgeons, nurses, and allied health practitioners, whereas in the past, this work
was usually performed by the members of founding religious orders or by
volunteers. However, there are various Catholic religious orders, such as the
Alexians and the Bon Secours Sisters that still focus on hospital ministry in the
late 1990s, as well as several other Christian denominations, including the
Methodists and Lutherans, which run hospitals. In accordance with the original
meaning of the word, hospitals were originally "places of hospitality", and this
meaning is still preserved in the names of some institutions such as the Royal
Hospital Chelsea, established in 1681 as a retirement and nursing home for
veteran soldiers.

Etymology
During the Middle Ages, hospitals served different functions from modern
institutions. Middle Ages hospitals were almshouses for the poor, hostels for
pilgrims, or hospital schools. The word "hospital" comes from the Latin hospes,
signifying a stranger or foreigner, hence a guest. Another noun derived from this,
hospitium came to signify hospitality, that is the relation between guest and
shelterer, hospitality, friendliness, and hospitable reception. By metonymy the
Latin word then came to mean a guest-chamber, guest's lodging, an inn. Hospes is
thus the root for the English words host (where the p was dropped for convenience
of pronunciation) hospitality, hospice, hostel and hotel. The latter modern word
derives from Latin via the ancient French romance word hostel, which developed
a silent s, which letter was eventually removed from the word, the loss of which is
signified by a circumflex in the modern French word hôtel. The German word
'Spital' shares similar roots.

History
The earliest documented institutions aiming to provide cures were ancient
Egyptian temples. In ancient Greece, temples dedicated to the healer-god
Asclepius, known as Asclepieia functioned as centres of medical advice,
prognosis, and healing. In early India India, Fa Xian, a Chinese Buddhist monk
who travelled across India c. CE 400, recorded examples of healing institutions.
According to the Mahavamsa, the ancient chronicle of Sinhalese royalty, written
in the sixth century CE, King Pandukabhaya of Sri Lanka (r. 437–367 BCE) had
lying-in-homes and hospitals (Sivikasotthi-Sala). A hospital and medical training
centre also existed at Gundeshapur, a major city in southwest of the Sassanid
Persian Empire founded in CE 271 by Shapur I. Ruins of a two thousand-year-old
hospital were discovered in the historical city of Anuradhapura Mihintale Sri
Lanka
A physician taking the pulse of a patient. From a 17th-century copy of Avicenna's
Canon of Medicine. Wellcome Library, London.
The declaration of Christianity as an accepted religion in the Roman
Empire drove an expansion of the provision of care. Following the First Council
of Nicaea in CE 325 construction of a hospital in every cathedral town was begun,
including among the earliest hospitals by Saint Sampson in Constantinople and by
Basil, bishop of Caesarea in modern-day Turkey. By the twelfth century,
Constantinople had two well-organised hospitals, staffed by doctors who were
both male and female. Facilities included systematic treatment procedures and
specialised wards for various diseases.
Types
Some patients go to a hospital just for diagnosis, treatment, or therapy and
then leave ("outpatients") without staying overnight; while others are "admitted"
and stay overnight or for several days or weeks or months ("inpatients"). Hospitals
usually are distinguished from other types of medical facilities by their ability to
admit and care for inpatients whilst the others, which are smaller, are often
described as clinics.

1. General and acute care

The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, also known as an
acute-care hospital. These facilities handle many kinds of disease and injury,
and normally have an emergency department (sometimes known as "accident
& emergency") or trauma center to deal with immediate and urgent threats to
health. Larger cities may have several hospitals of varying sizes and facilities.
2. District
A district hospital typically is the major health care facility in its region, with
large numbers of beds for intensive care, critical care, and long-term care.
3. Specialised
Types of specialised hospitals include rehabilitation hospitals, children's
hospitals, seniors' (geriatric) hospitals, long-term acute care facilities and
hospitals for dealing with specific medical needs such as psychiatric problems
(see psychiatric hospital), certain disease categories such as cardiac,
 oncology, or orthopedic problems, and so forth. In Germany specialised
hospitals are called Fachkrankenhaus; an example is Fachkrankenhaus
Coswig (thoracic surgery).
A hospital may be a single building or a number of buildings on a campus.
Many hospitals with pre-twentieth-century origins began as one building and
evolved into campuses. Some hospitals are affiliated with universities for
medical research and the training of medical personnel such as physicians and
nurses, often called teaching hospitals. Worldwide, most hospitals are run on
a nonprofit basis by governments or charities. Specialised hospitals can help
reduce health care costs compared to general hospitals.
4. Teaching
A teaching hospital combines assistance to people with teaching to medical
students and nurses and often is linked to a medical school, nursing school or
university.
5. Clinics
The medical facility smaller than a hospital is generally called a clinic, and
often is run by a government agency for health services or a private
partnership of physicians (in nations where private practice is allowed).
Clinics generally provide only outpatient services.

Departments or wards
Hospitals consist of departments, traditionally called wards, especially
when they have beds for inpatients, when they are sometimes also called inpatient
wards. Hospitals may have acute services such as an emergency department or
specialist trauma center, burn unit, surgery, or urgent care. These may then be
backed up by more specialist units such as the following:
1. Emergency department
An emergency department (ED), also known as an accident & emergency
department (A&E), emergency room (ER), emergency ward (EW) or casualty
department, is a medical treatment facility specializing in emergency
medicine, the acute care of patients who present without prior appointment;
 either by their own means or by that of an ambulance. The emergency
department is usually found in a hospital or other primary care center.
Due to the unplanned nature of patient attendance, the department must
provide initial treatment for a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries, some
of which may be life-threatening and require immediate attention. In some
countries, emergency departments have become important entry points for
those without other means of access to medical care.
The emergency departments of most hospitals operate 24 hours a day,
although staffing levels may be varied in an attempt to reflect patient volume.
2. Cardiology
Cardiology (from Greek καρδίᾱ kardiā, "heart" and -λογία -logia, "study")
is a branch of medicine that deals with the disorders of the heart as well as
some parts of the circulatory system. The field includes medical diagnosis
and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart
failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology. Physicians who
specialize in this field of medicine are called cardiologists, a specialty of
internal medicine. Pediatric cardiologists are pediatricians who specialize in
cardiology. Physicians who specialize in cardiac surgery are called
cardiothoracic surgeons or cardiac surgeons, a specialty of general surgery.
Although the cardiovascular system is inextricably linked to blood,
cardiology is relatively unconcerned with hematology and its diseases. Some
obvious exceptions that affect the function of the heart would be blood tests
(electrolyte disturbances, troponins), decreased oxygen carrying capacity
(anemia, hypovolemic shock), and coagulopathies.
All cardiologists study the disorders of the heart, but the study of adult and
child heart disorders are through different training pathways. Therefore, an
adult cardiologist (often simply called "cardiologist") is inadequately trained
to take care of children, and pediatric cardiologists are not trained to take care
of adult heart disease. The surgical aspects are not included in cardiology and
are in the domain of cardiothoracic surgery. For example, coronary artery
bypass surgery (CABG), cardiopulmonary bypass and valve replacement are
 surgical procedures performed by surgeons, not cardiologists. However the
insertion of stents and pacemakers is performed by cardiologists
3. Intensive care unit
An intensive care unit (ICU), also known as an intensive therapy unit or
intensive treatment unit (ITU) or critical care unit (CCU), is a special
department of a hospital or health care facility that provides intensive
treatment medicine.
Intensive care units cater to patients with severe or life-threatening
illnesses and injuries, which require constant care, close supervision from life
support equipment and medication in order to ensure normal bodily functions.
They are staffed by highly trained physicians, nurses and respiratory
therapists who specialize in caring for critically ill patients. ICUs are also
distinguished from general hospital wards by a higher staff-to-patient ratio
and to access to advanced medical resources and equipment that is not
routinely available elsewhere. Common conditions that are treated within
ICUs include acute (or adult) respiratory distress syndrome, hypertension,
metastases and other life-threatening conditions.
Patients may be referred directly from an emergency department or from a
ward if they rapidly deteriorate, or immediately after surgery if the surgery is
very invasive and the patient is at high risk of complications.
o Paediatric intensive care unit
A pediatric intensive care unit (also paediatric), usually
abbreviated to PICU, is an area within a hospital specializing in the
care of critically ill infants, children, and teenagers. A PICU is
typically directed by one or more pediatric intensivists or PICU
consultants and staffed by doctors, nurses, and respiratory
therapists who are specially trained and experienced in pediatric
intensive care. The unit may also have nurse practitioners,
physician assistants, physiotherapists, social workers, child life
specialists, and clerks on staff, although this varies widely
depending on geographic location. The ratio of professionals to
patients is generally higher than in other areas of the hospital,
 reflecting the acuity of PICU patients and the risk of life-
threatening complications. Complex technology and equipment is
often in use, particularly mechanical ventilators and patient
monitoring systems. Consequently, PICUs have a larger operating
budget than many other departments within the hospital.
o Neonatal intensive care unit
A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), also known as an intensive
care nursery (ICN), is an intensive care unit (ICU) specializing in
the care of ill or premature newborn infants. Neonatal refers to the
first 28 days of life. Neonatal care, as known as specialized
nurseries or intensive care, has been around since the 1960s. NICU
is typically directed by one or more neonatologists and staffed by
nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physician assistants,
resident physicians, respiratory therapists, and dietitians. Many
other ancillary disciplines and specialists are available at larger
units. The term neonatal comes from neo, "new", and natal,
"pertaining to birth or origin". Neonatal nurse practitioners are
advanced practice nurses that care for premature babies and sick
newborns in intensive care units, emergency rooms, delivery
rooms, and special clinics. Prematurity is a risk factor that follows
early labour, a planned caesarean section, or pre-eclampsia.
o Cardiovascular intensive care unit
4. Neurology
Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous
system. Neurology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of
conditions and disease involving the central and peripheral nervous systems
(and their subdivisions, the autonomic and somatic nervous systems),
including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue, such as
muscle. Neurological practice relies heavily on the field of neuroscience, the
scientific study of the nervous system.
 A neurologist is a physician specializing in neurology and trained to
investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders. Neurologists may
also be involved in clinical research, clinical trials, and basic or translational
research. While neurology is a nonsurgical specialty, its corresponding
surgical specialty is neurosurgery.
Significant overlap occurs between the fields of neurology and psychiatry,
with the boundary between the two disciplines and the conditions they treat
being somewhat nebulous.
5. Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. A medical professional who practices
oncology is an oncologist. The name's etymological origin is the Greek word
óngkos, meaning 1. "burden, volume, mass" and 2. "barb", and the Greek
word logos, meaning "study".
Cancer survival has improved due to three main components: improved
prevention efforts to reduce exposure to risk factors (e.g., tobacco smoking
and alcohol consumption), improved screening of several cancers (allowing
for earlier diagnosis), and improvements in treatment.
Cancers are often managed through discussion on multi-disciplinary
cancer conferences where medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation
oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and organ specific oncologists meet to
find the best possible management for an individual patient considering the
physical, social, psychological, emotional, and financial status of the patient.
It is very important for oncologists to keep updated with respect to the latest
advancements in oncology, as changes in management of cancer are quite
common.
6. Obstetrics and gynaecology, colloquially, maternity ward
Obstetrics and gynaecology (British English) or obstetrics and gynecology
(American English) is the medical specialty that encompasses the two
subspecialties of obstetrics (covering pregnancy, childbirth, and the
postpartum period) and gynaecology (covering the health of the female
reproductive system – vagina, uterus, ovaries, and breasts). It's commonly
 abbreviated as OB-GYN or OB/GYN in US English, and as obs and gynae or
O&G in British English.
Postgraduate training programs for both fields are usually combined,
preparing the practicing obstetrician-gynecologist to be adept both at the care
of female reproductive organs' health and at the management of pregnancy,
although many doctors go on to develop subspecialty interests in one field or
the other.

In addition, there is the department of nursing, often headed by a chief

nursing officer or director of nursing. This department is responsible for the
administration of professional nursing practice, research, and policy for the
hospital. Nursing permeates every part of a hospital. Many units or wards have
both a nursing and a medical director that serve as administrators for their
respective disciplines within that specialty. For example, in an intensive care
nursery, the director of neonatology is responsible for the medical staff and
medical care while the nursing manager/director for the intensive care nursery is
responsible for all of the nurses and nursing care in that unit/ward.
Some hospitals have outpatient departments and some have chronic
treatment units such as behavioral health services, dentistry, dermatology,
psychiatric ward, rehabilitation services, and physical therapy.
Common support units include a dispensary or pharmacy, pathology, and
radiology. Hospitals also have a mortuary, where the dead are stored. On the non-
medical side, there often are medical records departments, release of information
departments, information management (a.k.a. IM, IT or IS), clinical engineering
(a.k.a. biomed), facilities management, plant ops (operations, also known as
maintenance), dining services, and security departments.
As the quality of health care has increasingly become an issue around the
world, hospitals have increasingly had to pay serious attention to this matter.
Independent external assessment of quality is one of the most powerful ways to
assess this aspect of health care, and hospital accreditation is one means by which
this is achieved. In many parts of the world such accreditation is sourced from
other countries, a phenomenon known as international healthcare accreditation, by
groups such as Accreditation Canada from Canada, the Joint Commission from
the US, the Trent Accreditation Scheme from Great Britain, and Haute Authorité
de santé (HAS) from France.