Acute Care Overview
Acute care is a special section of healthcare that provides treatment for individuals with short-term, severe medical needs. Unlike long-term care, which is delivered over an extended period, acute care services help patients with sudden symptoms during a brief recovery period.
Acute Care in Hospital
The acute care department is a hospital section where physicians provide patients with medical care as they recover from illness or surgical intervention. A medically stable patient is typically ready to be discarded from the acute care unit after a few days. Patients who require a longer recovery can receive care from a skilled nursing facility or transitional care unit.
Emergency Care
Emergency care covers the treatment of acute bodily injuries or illnesses which, in the absence of immediate medical attention, may lead to severe disability or death. Clinicians in the emergency department provide care for individuals with a wide range of urgent medical needs, such as stroke, heart attack, dehydration, abdominal pain, or shortness of breath.
Acute Care at Home
At-home acute care providers support vulnerable individuals on a live-in or visiting basis. At the beginning of the treatment, the support worker is presented with a personalised care plan covering every aspect of the patient’s clinical needs. This way, the whole family can be confident that their loved one’s health needs are met down to the finest detail.