Care
Care (kair)
Care (pronounced as /kɛər/) is a term used in various contexts in the field of medicine and healthcare. It generally refers to the provision of services by healthcare professionals to patients for the improvement or maintenance of health.
Etymology
The term 'care' originates from the Old English 'caru' or 'cearu', which means sorrow, anxiety, or grief. Over time, it evolved to mean concern or responsibility for someone or something, particularly in the context of health and wellbeing.
Types of Care
There are several types of care in the medical field, including:
- Primary Care: This is the first point of contact for patients in the healthcare system, usually provided by general practitioners.
- Secondary Care: This is care provided by medical specialists who generally do not have first contact with patients, such as cardiologists, urologists, and dermatologists.
- Tertiary Care: This is specialized consultative care, usually on referral from primary or secondary medical care personnel, in a facility that has personnel and facilities for advanced medical investigation and treatment, such as a tertiary referral hospital.
- Quaternary Care: This is an extension of tertiary care in reference to advanced levels of medicine which are highly specialized and not widely accessed.
- Home Care: This is healthcare or supportive care provided in the patient's home by healthcare professionals.
- Palliative Care: This is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses, focusing on providing relief from symptoms, pain, and stress.
Related Terms
- Caregiver: A person who gives care to people who need help, such as the elderly, children, or patients with chronic illnesses or disabilities.
- Patient Care: The services rendered by members of the health professions for the benefit of a patient.
- Healthcare: The organized provision of medical care to individuals or a community.
- Nursing Care: The care provided by registered nurses to patients.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Care
- Wikipedia's article - Care
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski