Healthcare is the care or enhancement of healthcare through the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, improvement, or rehabilitation of illness, disease, injury, and any other physical and psychological impairments in human beings. Healthcare is provided by medical practitioners, nurse specialists, and related health fields. There are many healthcare topics such as general medical sciences; infectious diseases; pregnancy and childbirth; women’s health; and disabilities, physical therapy, and orthopedics. Health-related topics are also discussed under the subject of healthcare. Many people consider healthcare to be one of the most important decisions in their lives, since healthcare costs are growing and treatment options are limited.
Healthcare delivery involves medical procedures and treatments administered to a patient in a hospital or other medical facility. Patients may require surgery, cardiovascular or heart-healthy treatments, and pediatric care. Professional healthcare providers perform these medical procedures and treatments. In most cases, healthcare providers work for hospitals, nursing homes, or other community-based agencies. Some provide direct patient care and others coordinate and provide services with hospitals, other health professionals, and families.
In some communities, there are multilayered organizations that offer health care services to vulnerable groups. The multilayered organizations may include AIDS organizations, cancer societies, diabetes associations, and local hunger assistance programs. These organizations focus on providing high quality health services to people who have limited income and access to healthcare. They also help to educate people about their legal rights, social responsibilities, financial needs, and their ability to make informed decisions about healthcare. Such organizations may partner with healthcare providers and provide grants to support them in providing quality health services to their clientele.
Healthcare organizations also compile and analyze healthcare data. They collect, organize, analyze, and compare large amounts of data to facilitate the research, diagnosis and treatment of patients and to help healthcare providers make reliable decisions about patient care. Such organizations facilitate the exchange of patient information between healthcare providers and other stakeholders such as employers and insurance companies. They also provide hospitals access to detailed patient demographics, allowing them to effectively and efficiently manage patient healthcare.
Hospitals increasingly rely on electronic patient records (EPR) to track all types of patient care, from patient-to-patient care to hospital admissions and discharges. EPR technology allows hospitals to track all types of patient care and to enforce appropriate patient standards. These technologies have revolutionized the way hospitals treat their patients. They require the use of touch screens, secured entry, automated patient data retrieval, secure electronic data transmission, and accurate patient records to ensure the continuity of patient care and to prevent errors and prevent injury.
Hospitals and healthcare providers work closely together to improve healthcare. They develop comprehensive medical databases that provide evidence-based information about how healthcare providers are performing and what treatments are effective for patients. They create reports that describe all types of patient care and identify strengths and areas for improvement. The healthcare data also shows trends and allows researchers to intervene in care delivery. The cross integration of EHR and EPR technologies allows improved access to healthcare data and improved quality of care.