visit the hospital meaning

Example sentences hospital visit

Definition of 'hospital' hospital.

Definition of 'visit' visit

Cobuild collocations hospital visit.

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• hospital treats
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Being Admitted to the Hospital

• Registration |
• What to Bring to the Hospital |
• After Admission |

Hospitals provide extensive resources and expertise that enable doctors to rapidly diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases.

However, a hospital can be a frightening and confusing place. Often, care occurs quickly and without explanation. Knowing what to expect can help people cope and actively participate in their care during their stay. Understanding more about what hospitals do and why they do it can help people feel less intimidated by their hospital experience, more in control, and more confident about their health when they are discharged.

People are admitted to a hospital when they have a serious or life-threatening problem (such as a heart attack). They also may be admitted for less serious disorders that cannot be adequately treated in another place (such as at home or in an outpatient surgery center). A doctor—the primary care doctor, a specialist, or an emergency department doctor—determines whether people have a medical problem serious enough to warrant admission to the hospital.

The main goal of hospitalization is

To restore or improve health so that people can be safely discharged

Thus, hospital stays are intended to be relatively short and to enable people to be safely discharged to home or to another health care setting where treatment can be completed.

For many people, hospital admission begins with a visit to the emergency department. Knowing when and how to go to an emergency department is important. When people do go to the emergency department, they should bring their medical information .

Children may require a parent or other caregiver to stay at the hospital most of the time.

Registration for Hospital Admission

The first step in admission is registration. Sometimes registration can be done before arriving at the hospital. Registration involves filling out forms that provide the following:

Basic information (such as name and address)

Health insurance information

Telephone numbers of family members or friends to contact in case of an emergency

Consent to be treated

Consent to release information to insurance companies

Agreement to pay the charges

People are given an identification bracelet to be worn on the wrist. They should check to make sure the information on it is correct and should wear it at all times. That way, when tests or procedures are done, staff members can make sure that they have the right person. In many hospitals, the identification bracelet has a unique, personal barcode that health care providers scan prior to giving medications or other treatments or doing tests to ensure the proper care is given to the right person at the right time.

In the United States, a federal law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) applies to most health care institutions and clinicians. The act sets detailed rules regarding privacy, access to information, and disclosure of individually identifiable health information, referred to as protected health information.

What to Bring to the Hospital

Whether people are admitted to the hospital through the emergency department or by their doctor, they should bring their medical information.

The most important things people should bring are

A list of all medications they are taking and the doses of the medications (the list should include over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, and dietary supplements, such as vitamins, minerals, and medicinal herbs)

A list of any medication allergies

Any written instructions from their doctor

If people do not have this information or they are too ill to communicate, family members or friends should provide it if possible, and they should bring all bottles of medications they can find at home so that the hospital staff can make a list of those medications for the medical record.

People should also bring a copy of their most recent medical summary and records of recent hospital stays. However, many people do not have these records. In such cases, the hospital staff typically obtains the information from the primary care doctor, the hospital records department, or both.

Hospitals recommend that people also bring advance directives and any legal forms that indicate who can make medical decisions for them in case they cannot make decisions for themselves ( durable power of attorney for health care ).

People should give all of this information to the nurse responsible for getting them settled into a hospital room.

Personal items

People should also bring the following:

Toiletries, including a razor if used at home

Eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dentures (if they are used at home)

A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine to help with breathing (if they use one)

A few personal items, such as photographs of loved ones, to make them feel more comfortable, and, if they wish, something to read

Cell phone and cell phone charger

If a child is being hospitalized, parents should bring a comforting object, such as a favorite blanket or stuffed toy.

Because items often get lost in the hospital (especially when changing rooms), all personal items should be marked or labeled. Valuables (such as a wedding ring or other jewelry, credit cards, and large sums of money) should not be brought to the hospital.

Current prescription medications

Many people bring their own medications to the hospital so that they can use their own supply. However, to ensure patients are receiving the correct type and dose of medication, people are instead given the same or similar medications from the hospital's supply. If people bring medications to the hospital for the doctor or staff to review, the medications are usually returned home by a family member or friend after the medications are recorded in the medical record.

Therefore, in general, prescription medications should be left at home. Exceptions are expensive, unusual, or hard-to-obtain medications. These medications should be brought because the hospital may not be able to provide equivalent medications immediately. Such medications include rare chemotherapy drugs and experimental medications. In these cases, the medication is given to the hospital pharmacist who inspects and verifies it before it is given. During the person's hospital stay, the medication is kept in a storage area, and the nurse gives each dose of the medication to the person.

After Admission

After admission, people may be taken for blood tests or x-rays or go immediately to a hospital room. Before performing any invasive test or providing medical treatment, doctors must obtain permission from the patient or an authorized surrogate decision maker by explaining the potential harms and benefits of the tests and/or treatments. The process is known as informed consent . 

Hospital rooms may be private (one bed) or semi-private (more than one bed). Even in a private room, privacy is limited as staff members frequently go in and out of the room, and although they usually knock, they may enter before people can respond.

Various tests, such as blood or urine tests, may be done to check for problems. Staff members may ask questions to determine whether people are likely to develop problems in the hospital or to need extra help after discharge from the hospital. People may be asked about eating habits, mood, vaccinations, and drugs taken. They may be asked a standard series of questions to evaluate mental function (see table Mental Status Testing ).

Intravenous (IV) lines

An IV line is placed in almost every person who is admitted the hospital. An IV line is a flexible tube (catheter) inserted into a vein, usually a vein in the crook of the arm. IV lines can be used to give people fluids, medications, and, if needed, nutrients.

If people stay in the hospital for more than a few days, the IV line may have to be moved to a different place in the arm to avoid irritating the vein.

Preferences for resuscitation

All people admitted to the hospital are asked if they have a living will that documents their preferences for resuscitation and what their preferences for resuscitation are, even when they are in the hospital for minor problems and are otherwise healthy. Therefore, people should not assume that this question means they are seriously ill.

Resuscitation measures include the following:

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Electric shocks to the heart

Use of certain medications

Insertion of a breathing tube in the throat (intubation) and use of a machine to help with breathing ( mechanical ventilation )

Insertion of a feeding tube into the stomach to give nutrition

The decision about resuscitation measures is very personal and depends on many factors, including the person's health, life expectancy, goals, values, and religious and philosophical beliefs and on family members' thoughts. Ideally, people should decide on their own after discussing the issues with their family members, doctors, and others. They should not allow others to make this decision for them.

People may decide against resuscitation if they are older and feel they have lived a full life or if they have a serious disorder with a short life expectancy or a disorder that makes their quality of life poor. Doctors may suggest that people consider deciding against resuscitation measures if they have a terminal disorder or a disorder that makes returning to an acceptable quality of life unlikely after resuscitation. If people decide against resuscitation, doctors write do-not-resuscitate (DNR) or do-not-attempt-resuscitation (DNAR) orders on their chart.

The decision against resuscitation measures does not mean no treatment. For example, people who have a DNR or DNAR order are still treated for all disorders they have until their heart stops or until they stop breathing. Comfort care and treatment for pain are always provided and become a primary focus for health care professionals as people near the end of life.

Did You Know...

If people indicate that they do not know how to answer, doctors assume that they want all resuscitation measures.

People can change their decision about resuscitation measures at any time by telling their doctor. They do not have to explain why they changed their mind.

Ideally, resuscitation measures would restore the body's normal functions, and assistance with breathing and other support would no longer be needed. However, in contrast to what is typically portrayed in the media, these efforts have varying degrees of success, depending on the person's age and overall condition. These efforts tend to be more successful in younger, healthier people and are much less successful in older adults and in people with a serious disorder. However, there is no sure way to predict who will have a successful outcome after resuscitation and who will not.

In addition, resuscitation can cause problems. For example, rib fractures can result from chest compressions, and if the brain does not get enough oxygen for a while before people are resuscitated, they may have brain damage.

If people indicate that they do not want to be resuscitated (a DNR or DNAR order), a plastic bracelet is applied to their wrist and kept in place during the hospital stay to indicate their preference. Also, a doctor fills out a form called a portable medical order or Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) to indicate that they do not want to be resuscitated. People are given this form for their records. Then, after discharge, those who have a serious illness can post this form prominently at home (for example, on the refrigerator) in case they are found at home unconscious by medics. Formal POLST and similar programs do not exist in every state or community, but their development is spreading rapidly.

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Inpatient vs. Outpatient: Comparing Two Types of Patient Care

More than ever, patients are engaged in their medical care, which is encouraging when you consider most medical school mission statements emphasize patient communication and education. It’s also worth noting that research shows providers are able to drive positive patient outcomes using a teach-back method that involves caring and clear language. Yet even well-informed individuals lack some knowledge, such as the distinction between inpatient versus outpatient care.

So what’s the difference, and why does it matter? This overview can help you advance your health literacy.

Inpatient vs. outpatient: Distinguishing the differences in care

What is an inpatient ? In the most basic sense, this term refers to someone admitted to the hospital to stay overnight, whether briefly or for an extended period of time. Physicians keep these patients at the hospital to monitor them more closely.

With this in mind, what is outpatient care? Also called  ambulatory care , this term defines any service or treatment that doesn’t require hospitalization. An annual exam with your primary care physician is an example of outpatient care, but so are emergent cases where the patient leaves the emergency department the same day they arrive. Any appointment at a clinic or specialty facility outside the hospital is considered outpatient care as well.

While there’s a clear difference between an inpatient and an outpatient, there is a little bit of gray area as well. Occasionally, physicians will assign a patient  observation status while they determine whether hospitalization is required. This period typically lasts for no more than 24 hours.

Also note that the location itself doesn’t define whether you’re an inpatient versus outpatient. It’s the duration of stay, not the type of establishment, that determines your status.

Inpatient vs. outpatient: Comparing services

You’re probably starting to get a sense of the varying circumstances that fit under each category. To further recognize the difference between inpatient and outpatient care, review the below treatments and services that are common for these two types of care.

Inpatient care examples

• Complex surgeries, as well as some routine ones
• Serious illnesses or medical issues that require substantial monitoring
• Childbirth, even in cases that don’t require a cesarean section
• Rehabilitation services for psychiatric illnesses, substance misuse, or severe injuries

Outpatient care examples

• X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and other types of imaging
• Lab tests, such as bloodwork
• Minor surgeries, particularly ones that use less invasive techniques
• Colonoscopies
• Consultations or follow-ups with a specialist
• Routine physical exams
• Same-day emergent care, often treated at an urgent care facility versus the ER
• Chemotherapy or radiation treatment

Inpatient vs. outpatient: The providers in each setting

Primary care physicians  have traditionally been considered outpatient providers, while specialists are thought of as inpatient physicians. But that’s really an oversimplification, particularly when you consider that  hospitalists bridge the gap  by providing general medical care to inpatients. Effective care requires that doctors work together and effectively leverage health care technology , regardless of their specialties and settings.

Many physicians also divide their time between inpatient and outpatient services. OB/GYNs , for example, provide inpatient care when delivering babies and outpatient care when consulting with pregnant women during prenatal checkups.

Generally speaking, inpatients have contact with a larger group of providers. During a hospital stay, you could interact with physicians, nurse practitioners, lab technicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and physician assistants.

Inpatient vs. outpatient: Cost considerations

The difference between inpatient versus outpatient care matters for patients because it will ultimately affect your eventual bill.

Outpatient care involves fees related to the doctor and any tests performed. Inpatient care also includes additional facility-based fees. The most recent cost data included in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) shows the average national inpatient charges can vary considerably depending on the length of stay and the treatment involved. The exact amount you pay also hinges on your insurance.

Things get a little more complicated  if you have Medicare . Outpatient care and physician-related services for inpatient care are covered by Part B. Hospital services like rooms, meals, and general nursing for inpatients are covered by Part A.

But if you stay overnight in the hospital under observation status, Medicare still considers you an outpatient and will not cover care in a skilled nursing facility. It can certainly be confusing, so don’t be afraid to ask the medical team about your status. They’re used to these types of questions.

Expand your medical knowledge

Hopefully, you now have a little more clarity concerning the definition of inpatient versus outpatient. It can go a long way towards helping you understand what you should expect during and after any sort of medical treatment.

You can further deepen your understanding of the health care world by reading our article “50 Must-Know Medical Terms, Abbreviations, and Acronyms .”

*This article was originally published in June 2019. It has since been updated to reflect information relevant to 2021.

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Definition of hospital noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• to/into (the) hospital (British English) He had to go to/into hospital for treatment.
• (North American English) He had to go to/into the hospital for treatment.
• I'm going to the hospital to visit my brother.
• to be admitted to/into (the) hospital
• Arrangements have been made for his admission to (the) hospital.
• He's been taken to (the) hospital for tests.
• The injured were rushed to (the) hospital in an ambulance.
• to leave (the) hospital
• to be discharged/released from (the) hospital
• to visit a hospital
• in (the) hospital He died in hospital .
• He was treated in the hospital for burns.
• I spent four days in hospital.
• I was in the hospital for four days.
• in a hospital She works in a hospital in New York.
• out of (the) hospital She came out of the hospital this morning.
• at a hospital Doctors at the hospital decided to keep her in overnight.
• a private/local hospital
• a psychiatric/maternity hospital
• a children's hospital
• The procedure requires a two-to-three-night hospital stay .
• There is an urgent need for more hospital beds .
• hospital admissions
• hospital staff
• a hospital ward/room
• hospital treatment/care
• I had to go to hospital.
• She spent two weeks in hospital
• I had to go to the hospital.
• She spent two weeks in the hospital.
• He has been readmitted to hospital.
• He is in hospital recovering from a heart operation.
• He was taken to hospital as a precaution.
• He's had to go into hospital rather suddenly.
• How long will I have to stay in hospital?
• I used to work as a cleaner in a hospital.
• She works at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
• We went to the hospital to visit my gran.
• He was admitted to hospital complaining of chest pains.
• She was discharged from hospital and allowed to go home.
• There is a shortage of hospital beds.
• rush somebody to
• administrator
• at a/​the hospital
• in (a/​the) hospital
• to (a/​the) hospital
• admission to hospital
• admission to the hospital
• a stay in hospital

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Other results

• Chelsea Hospital
• Christ's Hospital
• General Hospital
• Guy's Hospital
• Papworth Hospital
• Rampton Hospital
• the Maudsley Hospital
• St Thomas's Hospital
• King's College Hospital
• the Middlesex Hospital
• the Royal Free Hospital
• St Bartholomew's Hospital
• University College Hospital

Nearby words

• the Hospital for Sick Children

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Outpatient visit

Measured differently in the following data systems:

American Hospital Association

Defines outpatient visits as visits for receipt of medical, dental, or other services at a hospital by patients who are not lodged in the hospital. Each appearance by an outpatient to each unit of the hospital is counted individually as an outpatient visit, including all clinic visits, referred visits, observation services, outpatient surgeries, and emergency department visits.

National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey

Defines an outpatient department visit as a direct personal exchange between a patient (not currently admitted to the hospital) and a physician or other health care provider working under the physician’s supervision for the purpose of seeking care and receiving personal health services.

(Also see Sources and Definitions, Emergency department or emergency room visit ; Outpatient department .)

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Acute and Short-Term Care

Acute care is short-term health care that involves treatment and care that are active but not over a long period of time. This type of care is typically used for injuries, illnesses, urgent and emergency needs, and for recovery or rehabilitation after surgery. Acute care is in contrast to long-term care, sometimes called chronic care, for recurring illnesses and progressive or terminal conditions.

There are many types of acute care, from emergency to pre-hospital care to urgent care. Regardless of the type, you or your loved one has a right to receive care that meets certain standards. Your caregivers are responsible for doing all that is reasonably possible to help you and to inform you of your condition and your options for treatment so that you can give informed consent for any procedures or before being discharged or transferred to another type of care.

What is Acute Care?

Acute care is a type of secondary health care. Secondary care describes care that is not received from a person’s primary caregiver, or doctor. It is more specialized than primary care. Acute care is treatment that is necessary but only for a short period of time. It is more specialized than primary care because it may involve emergency health care workers, urgent care specialists, trauma specialists, and other health care provides that are not primary care physicians.

Types of Acute Care

Acute care is a diverse group of medical specialties, but it can be organized into a few different types:

• Emergency care. Emergency care is any acute treatment that is administered for a life-threatening illness or injury. It may also be used to treat illnesses or injuries that are causing severe pain or may lead to serious consequences if not addressed immediately.
• Urgent care. This is a type of outpatient, or ambulatory care that is administered from a clinic rather than an emergency room and that typically does not require an appointment. Urgent care is used for pressing, but not emergency, health care needs.
• Trauma and acute surgery. Acute surgery is used to treat patients with immediate needs, such as the removal of the appendix before it bursts. It may also be used for treating traumatic injuries, like internal bleeding after a car accident.
• Prehospital care. This is care provided for a patient before they arrive at the hospital. It may be emergency care administered by paramedics or EMT, or it may be evaluation by an urgent care or other doctor who then decides to transfer the patient to the hospital.
• Critical and intensive care. Intensive or critical care units are typically found in hospitals and are used to treat and monitor patients who have life-threatening conditions but do not require emergency treatment. Patients are often transitioned from emergency to critical care after emergency treatment.
• Short-term stabilization. This is a type of care that is used to stabilize a patient ahead of the actual treatment. For example, a patient may need to be stabilized and hydrated with

The Importance of Acute Care

This kind of care provided in an acute setting is important to individuals and to the community at large. Acute care facilities, such as hospitals, have a responsibility to be prepared for any eventuality, including natural disasters, widespread illness or epidemics, and accidents involving a lot of people. Acute care plays an important role in saving lives and preventing disability in patients. When practiced with high standards of care, acute care is a valuable part of medicine.

Responsibilities of Health Care Facilities in Providing Acute Care

As with all types of care, professionals who provide acute care must adhere to certain standards of care and quality of care. The facility, the nurses, the doctors, and other professionals have a responsibility to give you quality care to the best of their abilities and training, doing all that is reasonable to assess, diagnose and treat your condition, and to advise you if there are choices to be made.

Informed consent is an important part of many instances of acute care. This means that you have a right to have the information necessary in order to make a choice about your care. For example, if you have a choice between undergoing surgery for an injury or waiting to see what happens, your caregiver should give you the most expert advice so that you can make a decision that is informed. Even if your decision goes against what the doctor advises, it was informed.

After Receiving Acute Care

Many types of acute care require some type of follow up, to evaluate the condition or injury or to determine if further treatment is needed. Being discharged from acute care may also require that you make an important decision. For some situations, simply going home is the best option. A child with a broken arm that has been casted or family member with an infection and a prescription for antibiotics are likely to be able to go home to recover with follow ups with doctors later.

Other situations may be more complicated. Depending on the injury or illness and the overall stability and health of the patient, he or she may need to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility, intensive care, or home but with skilled nursing support. Your medical team should explain your options to you and answer any questions you have before you make a decision. This planning for discharge and post-acute treatment is an important part of the standard of care because it allows patients and their caregivers to make informed decisions. And, follow up after acute care is an important part of good quality health care.

Most people will require some type of acute care during their lives, often many times. Getting sick, suffering an injury, having a heart attack, and other health issues are what leads people to seek out acute care. This is a very important part of health care because it saves lives and prevents or minimizes disabilities patients might otherwise suffer. You have a right to good care when you seek out acute care from health professionals. Know what to expect and be informed so that you can demand and ensure you get the best possible care.

• http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/91/5/12-112664/en/
• https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Downloads/Survey-and-Cert-Letter-13-20.pdf
• https://uihc.org/health-library/what-happens-after-acute-care
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Inpatient or outpatient hospital status affects your costs

Your hospital status—whether you're an inpatient or an outpatient—affects how much you pay for hospital services (like X-rays , drugs , and lab tests ). Your hospital status may also affect whether Medicare will cover care you get in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) following your hospital stay.

• You're an inpatient starting when you're formally admitted to the hospital with a doctor's order. The day before you're discharged is your last inpatient day.
• You're an outpatient if you're getting emergency department services , observation services, outpatient surgery , lab tests, or X-rays, or any other hospital services, and the doctor hasn't written an order to admit you to a hospital as an inpatient. In these cases, you're an outpatient even if you spend the night in the hospital.

Observation services are hospital outpatient services you get while your doctor decides whether to admit you as an inpatient or discharge you. You can get observation services in the emergency department or another area of the hospital.

The decision for inpatient hospital admission is a complex medical decision based on your doctor’s judgment and your need for medically necessary hospital care. An inpatient admission is generally appropriate when you’re expected to need 2 or more midnights of medically necessary hospital care. But, your doctor must order such admission and the hospital must formally admit you in order for you to become an inpatient.

Each day you have to stay, you or your caregiver should always ask the hospital and/or your doctor, or a hospital social worker or patient advocate if you’re an inpatient or outpatient.

Here are some common hospital situations and a description of how Medicare will pay. Remember, you pay your deductible , coinsurance, and copayment .

Remember, even if you stay overnight in a regular hospital bed, you might be an outpatient. Ask the doctor or hospital. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, your costs and coverage may be different. Check with your plan.

You may get a Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) that lets you know you’re an outpatient in a hospital or critical access hospital. You must get this notice if you're getting outpatient observation services for more than 24 hours. The MOON will tell you why you’re an outpatient getting observation services, instead of an inpatient. It will also let you know how this may affect what you pay while in the hospital, and for care you get after leaving the hospital.

The copayment for a single outpatient hospital service can’t be more than the inpatient hospital deductible. However, your total copayment for all outpatient services may be more than the inpatient hospital deductible.

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Meaning of visit in English

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• I want to buy a little something to give to Val when I visit her in hospital .
• There are several places of interest to visit in the area .
• I've never been to Kenya, but I hope to visit it next year .
• I have clear memories of visiting my grandfather's farm as a child .
• He picked up malaria when he was visiting the country on business .
• beard the lion (in his/her den) idiom
• call (in) on someone
• happen along/by (somewhere)
• have access to someone/something
• state visit
• stomping ground
• stop by (somewhere)

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Phrasal verbs

• They received a visit from the police .
• My uncle paid us a surprise visit yesterday .
• He gave a talk about his visit to America .
• The timetable for our trip to Paris includes visits to Notre Dame , the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
• The president's official visit marks the start of a more relaxed relationship between the two countries .

visit | American Dictionary

Examples of visit, collocations with visit.

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Friend wants patient to know they care without intruding on time at rehab facility

QUESTION : When my friends are in rehabilitation after falling and fracturing bones, is it OK to go to visit them at the rehab facility? I feel like I am intruding by dropping by, but I want them to know that I care.

CALLIE’S ANSWER: I think you ask them when is the best time to come visit. That is very kind and thoughtful of you to want to come visit.

LILLIE-BETH’S ANSWER: The first step is understanding that the purpose of your visit would be to care for them and not make things harder, which you are already doing.

After that, you can go a couple of different ways: Ask them when a good time for you to come visit would be and then feel out their response. If they don’t want visitors, then send a card or flowers to the facility or drop something off that might help them in recovery.

Ask other people who have gone through a similar process what truly helped them and follow suit. Also, be available once your friend is released — bring by a meal, offer to drive them places or run errands for them, etc. Look for ways to help, and check in with your friend along the way. I know this is obvious, but different people need different ways of caring at different times. Let your friend lead the way.

HELEN’S ANSWER: It is important to ask the patient if is OK to drop by. The patient may be having physical therapy at a certain time at rehab. It is up to you to determine how that affects your visit. You can always drop a card to the patient or send flowers to show that you care. If a patient is in rehab, they are truly busy with their care team, so figure out what works for them.

GUEST’S ANSWER: Patti Leeman, community volunteer : The proper pattern for visitation of people who are in rehabilitation following a fall differs depending on so many things, such as hospital rules for visiting hours (if there are any) and especially whether the patient has the stamina for a visit at this time. Often rehab sessions, other medical treatments and tests might be scheduled at the time of your visit.

As a general rule, people should call a family member, or the patient themself for answers.

The rule of etiquette is pretty much the same as the rules of friendship. Do not drop in unannounced, and do not come in the room saying "How are you feeling?" Do not stay more than 20 minutes the first visit, but DO follow up on that kindness with a card or phone call that shows your continued concern for recovery.

It is thoughtful, but certainly not necessary, to leave a book or personal card for your friend when you leave. It is comforting for your friend to know you hope to be with him or her soon back on the pickleball court or at the bridge table or where your friendship flourishes and that you all will pick up when the gang gets back together.

Since 2009, Callie, Lillie-Beth and Helen have written this generational etiquette column. They also include guest responses from a wide range of ages each week. So many years later, Callie is 20-plus; Lillie-Beth is 40-plus and Helen is 60-plus. To ask an etiquette question, email [email protected].

Secret History

5 Things Found Living Inside a Human Body!

Posted: June 6, 2024 | Last updated: June 6, 2024

Description:We all know by now that life on earth comes in all shapes and sizes. Prehistoric giants roamed the earth long before we got here, microscopic organisms can be found just about everywhere – from our food, to our rivers and streams, all the way down to our very own bodies. I mean, we’ve all seen the horror movies that have seen monsters living inside of some unlucky saps body before. Well, when you think about it, some of those stories aren’t too far from the truth! That’s why today Top 5 Supreme brings you 5 Horrifying Things Found Living Inside a Human Body! Before we get started with today’s video don’t forget to click the bell to get notified every single day with the BEST Tops you’ll ever see! Let’s get rollin!#5 Botfly in the EyeWhen your mother tells you to stop rubbing your eyes, you may want to listen.A 17-year old boy in Peruvia noticed that his eye was swelling over the course of a couple weeks. After finally going to the Dr, a pretty gross discovery was made. The cause of the swelling in his eye turned out to a 1.2 inch botfly larva that was growing inside of his eye! Dermatobia hominis, or the human botfly, can be implanted into humans by infected mosquitos. It then grows for 8 weeks before emerging! Botflys are generally harmless, however disgusting, nonetheless.#4 Maggots in the EarThe next time you have that constant buzzing in your ear and you don’t know where it’s coming from, you probably don’t want to hesitate before you go get it checked out. In a situation that isn’t completely uncommon, a man from India was shocked to learn that he had an entire infestation of maggots living inside of his year. The man, who went to visit the Dr after hearing a constant ‘buzz’ in one of his ears, discovered this unfortunate situation and went to visit Dr Vikram Yadav. After the Dr discovered what was going on, he suffocated the maggots, causing them all the head for the exit. Once they emerged from the ear, he plucked them all out one by one. Who’s ready for lunch?#3 Dandelion in Your EarI’m pretty sure just about every kid ever has plucked a dandelion out of the ground, to either gift it to your mother or use it as a toy, or simply just to admire it for it’s simple beauty. Sometimes we may even try to plant the little flower ourselves. But, in the ground, of course, not in your ear! A Dr in China removed a dandelion that was growing in the ear canal of a 16-month old girl a few years ago . . . that’s something you sure don’t hear everyday! A seed had fallen into the little girls ear several months prior to the procedure, and the dr’s were able to remove the flower before it caused any permanent damage.#2 Baby SquidYou are what you eat. Isn’t that how the saying goes? Well that was especially true when a 63 year-old woman from South Korea was eating squid. While chewing, the woman claimed to feel a sharp pain in her mouth. That sharp pain was actually squid sperm, and drs had to remove 12 ‘baby squid’ from her mouth where they were attached to her tongue, cheek and gums! I’ll take my squid well done, please!#1 Fish in BoysThere’s no easy way to say this next one, so I’m just gonna put it out there – a 14-year old boy from India had a 2cm long fish swim up his . Yep, you heard me right. The boy was apparently cleaning his fish tank. He claimed to have the fish in his hand when he had to go use the bathroom . . . and the rest is, well, history. Disgusting history. The boy originally checked in to the hospital because he was experiencing sharp pain and acute urinary retention. Ouch! The boy recovered ok, but he did require counseling to help him overcome the trauma. Hopefully you don’t have any of these living things growing in or on your body, but the best thing to do to prevent one of these situations is just by paying attention to what your body is telling you! Don’t wait until the last minute because it’s only gonna get a lot worse! And that is today’s list! Thanks for watching today's video. If you like this list, leave a thumbs up and share with all of your friends! And don't forget to subscribe to this channel so you never have to miss out on any of our interesting video sever again! Background Music: Kevin MacLeod - DreamlikeEnding Song: Something New - Joakim Karud : <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCWBuBQyYFQFor">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCWBuBQyYFQFor</a> Copyright Issues, Please Feel Free to E-mail me: [email protected]_________________________________________________________________Thank you SOOO Much for watching this video! Give it a like if you liked this video, share it with some of your friends and of course, do not forget to subscribe for the Best Lists!

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How Triage Works in a Hospital

Determining Who Needs Emergency Attention First

• How It Works
• When It's Used

The term "triage" means sorting out. Medically, it's a process used to prioritize who needs emergency medical attention first, whether injured or sick people or disaster survivors.

Patients are triaged or prioritized according to their need for emergency care. Resource availability is also taken into account during this process.

Triage may be performed by  emergency medical technicians (EMTs) , hospital emergency room gatekeepers, soldiers on a battlefield, or anyone with knowledge of the system during an emergency situation.

This article explains what medical triage is, how it works, and when it is used. It also covers different types of triage and the developments that are changing the triage landscape.

Why Is It Called Triage?

The word "triage" comes from the French word trier , which means to sort or select. Its historic roots for medical purposes go back to the days of Napoleon when triaging large groups of wounded soldiers was necessary.

Over the centuries, triage systems have evolved into a well-defined priority process, sometimes requiring specific training depending on the setting or organization that uses the system.

How Medical Triage Works

Each organization has its own triage system. They all create priorities for who gets care or is transported for care. The most common triage systems use color coding.

These are examples of the five categories or levels of triage that an organization may use:

• Red:  The individual needs immediate attention for a critical life-threatening injury or illness and may be transported first for medical help.
• Yellow:  The individual has serious injuries that need immediate attention. In some systems, yellow tags are transported first because they have a better chance of recovery than red-tagged patients.
• Green:  This could indicate less serious or minor injuries that are non-life-threatening. Transport may be delayed.
• Black:  This could indicate an individual is deceased or mortally wounded. It may mean that they are beyond help and, therefore, are a lower priority than those who can be helped.
• White:  The individual doesn't have an injury or illness.

Triage systems run the gamut from verbal shouting in an unusual emergency to well-defined colored tagging systems used by soldiers and EMTs when they arrive on the scene of a multicasualty accident or a battlefield with many wounded soldiers.

Process of Triage

Triage works differently in different settings. It will be slightly different in a hospital than at the site of an accident or disaster.

Before the Hospital

According to the 2021 National Guidelines for the Field Triage of Injured Patients, the first step for emergency medical services is to assess injury patterns, mental status, and vital signs. Severe injuries to any part of the body including the head, neck, torso, spine, or pelvis mean someone is at high risk, or in the "red" category.

Patients meeting these "red" criteria need to be transported either to the highest-level trauma center available or to the closest hospital first for stabilization and then to a trauma center. Patients meeting the "yellow" criteria are also at risk of serious injury, but theirs is moderate.

The "yellow" criteria are concerned with how the injury occurred. They recommend transporting someone who's been injured in a motor vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian accident to a trauma center for care. Likewise, the EMT may make a judgement to send someone to a hospital based on whether that person uses anticoagulants, is pregnant, or has other risk factors.

In the Hospital

Once the patient arrives at the emergency room, hospitals will use their triage systems to prioritize patients according to severity of the trauma and available resources. More than 70% of emergency departments across the United States use a triage system called the Emergency Severity Index (ESI).

The ESI was developed in 1999 and uses a five-level triage algorithm to sort patients into groups based on how dire the situation is and what resources are available. Level I is the most urgent and level V is the least urgent.

Triage nurses help evaluate patients and decide the priority of care in an emergency room and other medical settings. They update the medical team on the patient's status and provide emergency care when needed.

When Medical Triage Is Used

In the U.S., emergency rooms may be full of people who need immediate attention plus people who are seeking treatment for less serious conditions. The department may be staffed just to meet the expected need.

When there are too many patients and not enough personnel or resources, triage is used to determine who gets care first. This ensures the patients who need lifesaving treatment are seen before those who have less serious conditions.

Hospital resources can include things like laboratory and X-ray facilities, such as the equipment and personnel need to run the equipment.

Triage may be a short-term need, as when there is a vehicle accident with multiple casualties needing ambulance transportation. Or, it may be a long-term need for a hospital that is often understaffed for the number of patients who arrive at the emergency department.

Types of Triage

Different types of triage are needed for different situations:

• Emergency department triage: This is used by hospitals when patients arrive at the emergency room.
• Incident (multicasualty) triage: This is used for any situation involving injuries to multiple people, such as in a motor vehicle accident.
• Disaster (mass casualty) triage: Similar to incident triage, this type involves injuries to a large number of people, such as after a terrorist incident or a natural disaster. The most commonly used triage system in the U.S. for these emergencies is called the START triage system, which can evaluate an adult in about 30 to 60 seconds.
• Military (battlefield) triage: This is used to treat injured soldiers on the battlefield.
• Telephone triage: This occurs when a nurse listens to your symptoms and assesses your need for care over the phone outside of normal operating hours. The nurse lets you know whether you should see a doctor, go to the emergency room, or try at-home treatment. The nurse can also call an ambulance in life-threatening situations.

Changes to Triage

Triage systems have been changing due to technology. Technological advances like telehealth have been able to transform the healthcare environment.

For example, providers at rural hospitals that cannot afford the latest equipment or high-level specialties can now connect more easily with trauma centers through increased use of telephones, cell phones, the Internet, and closed teleconferencing systems. Telephone triage is another example of how technology is being used to make health services available to more people in more situations.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is another technological development that is changing emergency medical treatment. The triage process of assessing a patient is subjective. Two nurses evaluating the same patient can sometimes disagree about the patient's level of care. Thanks to AI, patients can now be triaged more objectively.

An AI algorithm that combines the triage evaluation data with the patient's medical history has been shown to recommend a more accurate triage level of care—and it does this within a matter of seconds. It also provides an explanation for how it reached its decision, allowing care providers to follow the logic before taking action.

These AI systems are already being used in hospitals in several states including Maryland, Florida, and Connecticut. They are proving to be an invaluable triage tool.

Triage is the prioritization of injured or sick individuals based on their need for emergency treatment. Each organization will have their own triage system, which often includes color-coded or numbered categories.

Triage may be used to meet an organization's short or long-term needs to help determine who gets care first. People with life-threatening injuries are prioritized over people with minor injuries. The type of triage system a hospital uses will be different from the system used by emergency medical technicians or in disaster situations.

Technological advances are changing how triage works. Telehealth gives more people access to health information in emergencies, and artificial intelligence can be used to triage patients more accurately than before.

Nakao H, Ukai I, Kotani J. A review of the history of the origin of triage from a disaster medicine perspective .  Acute Med Surg . 2017;4(4):379-384. doi:10.1002/ams2.293

Bazyar J, Farrokhi M, Khankeh H. Triage systems in mass casualty incidents and disasters: A review study with a worldwide approach . Open Access Maced J Med Sci . 2019;7(3):482-494. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.119

Newgard CD, Fischer PE, Gestring M, et al. National guideline for the field triage of injured patients: Recommendations of the National Expert Panel on Field Triage, 2021 . J Trauma Acute Care Surg . 2022;93(2):e49-e60. doi:10.1097/TA.0000000000003627

Sax DR, Warton EM, Mark DG, et al. Evaluation of the emergency severity index in US emergency departments for the rate of mistriage . JAMA Netw Open . 2023;6(3):e233404. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.3404

Morris RS, Karam BS, Murphy PB, et al. Field-triage, hospital-triage and triage-assessment: a literature review of the current phases of adult trauma triage .  J Trauma Acute Care Surg . 2021;90(6):e138-e145. doi:10.1097/TA.0000000000003125

American Nurse Journal. Telephone triage nursing: When patients call .

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Electronic triage tool improves patient care in emergency departments .

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Tool developed to assist with triage in the emergency department .

Mccoy CE, Chakravarthy B, Lotfipour S. Guidelines for Field Triage of Injured Patients: In conjunction with the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention . West J Emerg Med . 2013;14(1):69-76. doi:10.5811/westjem.2013.1.15981

Traub SJ, Butler R, Chang YH, Lipinski C. Emergency Department Physician Telemedical Triage . Telemed J E Health . 2013;19(11):841-5. doi:10.1089/tmj.2013.0026

By Trisha Torrey  Trisha Torrey is a patient empowerment and advocacy consultant. She has written several books about patient advocacy and how to best navigate the healthcare system.