Acute Care
Updated: 05 January 2025
What Does Acute Care Mean?
Acute care refers to short-term, intensive medical treatment provided to individuals experiencing a serious illness or injury. The goal is to address the immediate health issue and improve the person’s condition in a brief period of time.
Insuranceopedia Explains Acute Care
The time factor plays a key role in the taxonomy of healthcare. Acute care is distinguished by its short duration, as it focuses on treating conditions rapidly, unlike chronic or long-term care. For example, an inflamed appendix (appendicitis) can be life-threatening, but its treatment, an appendectomy, can be performed in a relatively short amount of time compared to other invasive procedures.