Hospital care refers to the diagnostic, therapeutic, and supportive services delivered to patients within an inpatient facility, encompassing acute admission, monitoring, procedural intervention, and coordinated discharge planning. It is distinguished from ambulatory care by the intensity of supervision, the availab…
Hospital care refers to the diagnostic, therapeutic, and supportive services delivered to patients within an inpatient facility, encompassing acute admission, monitoring, procedural intervention, and coordinated discharge planning. It is distinguished from ambulatory care by the intensity of supervision, the availability of multidisciplinary teams, and the capacity to manage clinically unstable or complex conditions. Effective hospital care depends on attention to fundamental physiological needs such as hydration and nutritional status, both of which influence recovery, complication rates, and length of stay, particularly among older and medically vulnerable inpatients. The field also addresses the management of specific presentations, from traumatic injury to infectious disease, and the safe prescribing and dispensing of medicines according to recognized indicators. Quality and equity concerns are central, including disparities in the uptake of hospital services, the social determinants that shape who is admitted and how they fare, and the barriers managers and providers identify in delivering timely care. Related considerations extend to transitions between hospital and long-term or end-of-life settings, where continuity is essential. Research on hospital care therefore integrates clinical, organizational, and epidemiological perspectives to improve patient safety, outcomes, and the efficient use of inpatient resources.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 98 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Hospital Care, linking to each citing work.