Ambulatory care

The VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Centre in California is a large ambulatory care center where ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) are routinely assessed and managed.

Ambulatory care or outpatient care is medical care provided on an outpatient basis, including diagnosis, observation, consultation, treatment, intervention, and rehabilitation services. This care can include advanced medical technology and procedures even when provided outside of hospitals.[1][2][3][4][5][excessive citations]

Ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) are health conditions where appropriate ambulatory care prevents or reduces the need for hospital admission (or inpatient care), such as diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[6]

Many medical investigations and treatments for acute and chronic illnesses and preventive health care can be performed on an ambulatory basis, including minor surgical and medical procedures, most types of dental services, dermatology services, and many types of diagnostic procedures (e.g. blood tests, X-rays, endoscopy and biopsy procedures of superficial organs). Other types of ambulatory care services include emergency visits, rehabilitation visits, and in some cases telephone consultations.[7]

Ambulatory care services represent the most significant contributor to increasing hospital expenditures and to the performance of the health care system in most countries, including most developing countries.[8][9]

  1. ^ "What is Ambulatory Care?". WiseGeek. 24 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Medical Definition of Ambulatory care". MedicineNet.com.
  3. ^ "What is "Ambulatory Care"?". William Osler Health System. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  4. ^ "Programs & Services: Ambulatory Care". Saskatoon Health Region. Archived from the original on 2011-09-05.
  5. ^ "Ambulatory care". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  6. ^ Canadian Institute for Health Information, Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions. Archived 2022-01-21 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 14 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Comprehensive Ambulatory Care Classification System". Canadian Institute for Health Information. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  8. ^ Karpiel MS (1994). "Using patient classification systems to identify ambulatory care costs". CBS Business Network. 48 (11): 30–4, 36–7. PMID 10146093. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  9. ^ Berman P (2000). "Organization of ambulatory care provision: a critical determinant of health system performance in developing countries" (PDF). Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 78 (6): 791–802. PMC 2560790. PMID 10916916.