A hospital is defined as an institution that provides care, cure, and treatment for the sick and wounded, and also studies diseases and trains doctors and nurses. The document then outlines the philosophy, objectives, scope, functions, and various ways hospitals can be classified such as by length of stay, clinical basis, ownership, objectives, size, management, and medical system. Key functions of hospitals include patient care, diagnosis and treatment, education and training, and disease prevention and health promotion.

3. DEFINITION
HOSPITAL IS AN INSTITUTION
FOR THE CARE, CURE, AND
TREATMENT OF THE SICK AND
WOUNDED, FOR THE STUDY OF
DISEASES AND FOR THE TRAINING
DOCTORS AND NURSES.
(STEADMAN’S MEDICAL DICTIONARY)

4. PHILOSOPHY
 To maintain the highest quality of services of
curative, restorative and preventive services to all
persons who seek its services.
 To render high standard of patient care in all
functional areas of the hospital.
 Commitment to research in patient care, educational
training and management.
 Commitments as screening and referral centre for
patient suffering from particularly complex health
problem

5. OBJECTIVES
 Provide optimum health services
 Provide care, cure, preventive service.
 Protect the human rights of clients.
 Provide training for professionals.
 Provide in-service/continuing education
in all discipline professional technical
personnel.
 Participate/conduct research

6. SCOPE OF HOSPITAL
 TEAM APPROACH
 CONTENTS OF SERVICE
 CO-ORDINATION
 CONTINUITY OF CARE
 EVALUATION AND RESEARCH.

7. FUNCTIONS
 Patient care
 Diagnosis and treatment of disease
 Out-patient services
 Medical Education and training
 Medical and nursing research
 Prevention of disease and promotion
of health

8. CLASSIFICATION OF
HOSPITAL
 Length of stay of patient
 Clinical basis.
 Ownership/control basis
 Objectives
 Size
 Management
 System of medicine.

9.  Length of stay of patient
(long-term and short-term)
 Clinical basis (general)`

10. According to
OWNERSHIP/CONTROL.
 Public Hospitals
Run by the central or state governments or local bodies on
noncommercial lines.
General hospital or specialised hospitals or both.
 Voluntary Hospitals
Established and incorporated under the Societies Registration Act
1860; or Public Trust Act 1882 or any other appropriate act of
central or state governments.
Run with public or private funds
 Private Nursing hospitals/Nursing Homes
Generally owned by an individual doctor or a group of doctors.
Run the hospital or nursing home on a commercial basis.
 Corporate Hospitals
Hospitals which are public limited companies formed under the
companies act.
Run on commercial lines. They can be either general or
specialised or both (e.g. Hinduja hospital, Apollo Group of
Hospitals).

11. According to the
Objectives
 Teaching-cum -Research Hospital
College is attached for medical/ nursing/dental/pharmacy
education.
Main objective is teaching based on research and the provision
of health care is secondary, e.g. AIIMS, D Y PATAIL
HOSPITAL.
 General Hospitals
Provide treatment for common diseases and conditions.
Provide active medical and nursing care for more than one
category of medical discipline such as general
medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and
gynaecology, paediatrics etc.
Main objective is to provide medical care, teaching and

12.  Specialised Hospitals
Provide medical and nursing care primarily for only
one discipline or a specific disease or condition of
one system.
Concentrate on a particular aspect or organ of the
body and provide medical and nursing care in that
field, e.g.
tuberculosis, ENT, ophthalmology, Orthopedics, P
ediatrics, cardiology, mental health/psychiatric
oncology, STDs, maternal etc.
 Isolation Hospitals
Persons suffering from Infections/communicable
disease requiring isolation of the patients, e.g.

13. According to Size
 TEACHING HOSPITAL 500 BEDS
 DISTRICT HOSPITAL 200 BEDS
 TALUKA HOSPITAL 50 BEDS
 PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRE 10 BEDS

14. According to
Management
 UNION GOVERNMENT/GOVERNMENT OF
INDIA.
 STATE GOVERNMENTS
 LOCAL BODIES
 AUTONOMOUS BODIES
 PRIVATE
 VOLUNTARY AGENCIES

15. According to System
 Allopathic hospitals
 Ayurvedic hospitals
 Homeopathic hospitals
 Unani hospitals
 Hospitals of other systems of medicine.

17.  AVAILABILITY OF BEDS
 METHODS OF PAYMENT FOR HOSPITAL SERVICES
 AGE OF THE POPULATION
 SERVICE COVERAGE AND BED DISTRIBUTION
 AVAILABILITY OF EXTRAMURAL MEDICAL SERVICES
 HOSPITAL ‘BOTTLENECKS”
 MEDICAL CUSTOMS AND SOCIAL PATTERNS
 SUPPLY OF PHYSICIANS

18.  Research and Training
 Existence of Proprietary Hospitals
 Housing
 Morbidity
 Internal Organisation