Hospital

A hospital today is an institution for professional health care provided in part by physicians and nurses.

Terminology

During the Middle Ages the hospital could serve other functions, such as almshouse for the poor, or hostel for pilgrims. The name comes from Latin hospes (host), which is also the root for the words hotel and hospitality.

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - Almshouse - Pilgrims - Latin - Hotel - Hospitality

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Some patients just come just for diagnosis and/or therapy and then leave (outpatients); while others are "admitted" and stay overnight or for several weeks or months (inpatients). Hospitals are usually distinguished from other types of medical facilities by their ability to admit and care for inpatients.

Related Topics:
Diagnosis - Therapy

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Grammar of the word differs slightly, with American English preferring that someone is "in the hospital", while Commonwealth English (including some Canadian English) prefers that someone is "in hospital". Commonwealth English also maintains that "an hospital" is the correct usage in situations where the noun in question must be prefixed with an article, while in American English, "a hospital" is preferred, as the actual pronunciation of the phrase is easier due to the aspirated 'h' with which the word starts.

Related Topics:
Grammar - American English - Commonwealth English - Canadian English

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