Health services

Health services refers to the services provided by health professionals or health care institutions such as hospitals and clinics to individuals, families, communities, or populations. These services are designed to promote, maintain, monitor, or restore health.

Overview[edit | edit source]

Health services encompass a broad range of community health and wellness services including diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments. They are delivered by professionals in allied health, dentistry, midwifery, medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, psychology and other health professions.

Types of Health Services[edit | edit source]

Primary Health Services[edit | edit source]

Primary health services are the first point of contact for patients and include general practice, community pharmacy, dental, and optometry services.

Secondary Health Services[edit | edit source]

Secondary health services are services provided by medical specialists who generally do not have first contact with patients, for example, cardiologists, urologists and dermatologists.

Tertiary Health Services[edit | edit source]

Tertiary health services are specialized consultative services provided by specialist hospitals or regional centers equipped with diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals.

Health Services Delivery[edit | edit source]

Health services are delivered through different means including individual health care providers, health care facilities, health systems, health plans, and community-based health care services.

Health Services Research[edit | edit source]

Health services research is a multidisciplinary field of scientific investigation that studies how social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, health technologies, and personal behaviors affect access to health care, the quality and cost of health care, and ultimately our health and well-being.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Health services Resources
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