Introduction
This topic covers hospital care: what a hospital is, its functions, structure and organisation, the types of hospitals in Bulgaria, ownership, governance, and the indicators used to measure hospital activity.
Definition
- A hospital is a residential establishment providing short-term and long-term medical care (observational, diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative services) for persons suffering or suspected to be suffering from disease or injury.
- Hospitals are health care institutions with an organised medical and other professional staff and inpatient facilities, delivering medical, nursing and related services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- They offer a varying range of acute, convalescent and terminal care using diagnostic and curative services, in response to acute and chronic conditions arising from diseases, injuries and genetic anomalies. In doing so they generate essential information for research, education and management.
- Traditionally oriented to individual care, hospitals are increasingly forging closer links with other parts of the health sector and communities to optimise the use of resources for the promotion and protection of individual and collective health.
According to Bulgarian law (Health Care Establishments Act), a hospital is a health institution where physicians, supported by other health specialists and auxiliary staff, perform all or some of the following:
- Diagnosis and treatment of diseases when treatment cannot be done in outpatient care.
- Obstetric care.
- Rehabilitation.
- Diagnosis and consultation required by another physician or dentist from other health institutions.
- Transplantation of organs, tissues and cells.
- Medico-cosmetic services.
- Clinical trials of medicines and medical equipment according to current legislation.
- Teaching and research activities.
Plus dispensary observation.