Health Facilities

Summary

Health facilities are places that provide health care. They include hospitals, clinics, outpatient care centers, and specialized care centers, such as birthing centers and psychiatric care centers.

When you choose a health facility, you might want to consider:

• How close it is to where you live or work
• Whether your health insurance will pay for services there
• Whether your health care provider can treat you there
• The quality of the facility

Quality is important. Some facilities do a better job than others. One way to learn about the quality of a facility is to look at report cards developed by federal, state, and consumer groups.

Related Issues

• Birthing Centers and Hospital Maternity Services Nemours Foundation
• Helping You Choose: Quality Ambulatory Care Joint Commission
• Helping You Choose: Quality Hospital Care Joint Commission
• Helping You Choose: Quality Nursing Care Center Services Joint Commission
• Report a Patient Safety Concern or File a Complaint Joint Commission

Patient Handouts

• Choosing a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility Medical Encyclopedia
• How to choose the best hospital for surgery Medical Encyclopedia
• Isolation precautions Medical Encyclopedia
• Leaving the hospital – your discharge plan Medical Encyclopedia
• Skilled nursing or rehabilitation facilities Medical Encyclopedia

Statistics and Research

• Fast Facts on U.S. Hospitals American Hospital Association
• FastStats: Ambulatory Care Use and Physician Office Visits National Center for Health Statistics
• Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Statistical Briefs Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Find an Expert

• Find a Clinic National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
• FindTreatment.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Medicare: Find and Compare Health Care Providers Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Children

• Going to the Hospital Nemours Foundation

Encyclopedia

• Preventing infections when visiting Medical Encyclopedia
• Wound care centers Medical Encyclopedia

Journal Articles

• Health Facilities

Health Check Tools

• Question Builder: Be Prepared for Your Next Medical Appointment Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Specifics

• School-Based Health Centers Nemours Foundation