Hoosiers have many options when it comes to hospital care. To help you make more informed health care choices, this guide explains the different types of hospitals.
Acute Care Hospitals
When most people think of a hospital, this is the type that comes to mind. Indiana currently has 132 acute care hospitals. This type of hospital features inpatient medical facilities that treat severe illnesses and injuries. The average stay for patients in an acute care hospital is less than 30 days.
Psychiatric / Behavioral Health Hospitals
These hospitals are focused on the treatment of serious mental disorders. Indiana has 15 free-standing psychiatric hospitals and 10 community mental health centers.
Critical Access Hospitals
To serve the needs of rural communities, critical access hospitals (CAH) offer care that’s closer to home. In order to be classified as a CAH, these hospitals must provide 24/7 emergency care, be located more than 35 miles away from another hospital and maintain an average stay of less than 96 hours for acute care patients. Indiana has 35 critical access hospitals.
Long-term Acute Care Hospitals
Long-term acute care hospitals serve patients that require ongoing care, but no longer require intensive care or extensive diagnostic procedures. This type of hospital typically cares for patients that require more care that they can receive from rehabilitation centers or skilled nursing facilities. Indiana has 7 long-term acute care hospitals.
Rehabilitation Hospitals
Indiana’s 7 rehab hospitals are devoted to the rehabilitation of patients with various neurological, musculoskeletal, orthopedic and other conditions. In most cases, patients will transfer to a rehab hospital once their medical condition has been stabilized at an acute care facility.
Want to learn more about a specific hospital? Explore the complete directory of Indiana Hospitals.
