Submitted by: Submitted by brookelauren
Views: 333
Words: 293
Pages: 2
Category: Other Topics
Date Submitted: 03/15/2011 09:04 PM
Ambulatory care covers a wide range of services for the non-institutionalized patient and is simply where people with non-urgent medical problems can receive treatment that does not require an overnight stay by the patient. In recent years the number and type of ambulatory or outpatient facilities have increased to allow more patients to receive treatment outside of the more costly acute care hospitals. This is possible because of advances in technology and technique and ambulatory care facilities have expanded to include surgery centers, diagnostic imaging centers, cardiac catheterization laboratories, and other freestanding facilities. Some facilities are operated by chains, either independently owned or affiliated with a hospital, therefore the required equipment is available to them. I think ambulatory care is changing society’s view on health care because outpatient procedures don’t seem as important anymore. I think there are a lot of patients that think if they are having a procedure done at an ambulatory clinic that the procedure is minor and not important, whereas a lot of them are. I also think some of society has certain views that ambulatory care is so common due to insurance companies cutting back and not wanting to cover an overnight stay. I’ve actually known people that have had major surgeries and pretty much had to fight in order to stay in the hospital because the doctors were trying to send them home the next day, when they were clearly ill. I’m not sure how ambulatory services can change, it is what it is. To me, the major problem is not being admitted into the hospital after having a major procedure done. I guess I have a bad attitude toward the insurance companies and the influence they have on doctors.