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Health Facilities
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Health System

Health Facilities

Health facilities are essential locations that provide medical care, ranging from hospitals and clinics to specialized centers.

Overview

Health facilities are places that provide health care. They include hospitals, clinics, outpatient care centers, and specialized care centers, such as birthing centers and psychiatric care centers.

Choosing a Facility

When you choose a health facility, you might want to consider:

  • How close it is to where you live or work
  • Whether your health insurance will pay for services there
  • Whether your health care provider can treat you there
  • The quality of the facility

Evaluating Quality

Quality is important, as some facilities do a better job than others. One way to learn about the quality of a facility is to look at report cards developed by federal, state, and consumer groups.

Frequently Asked Questions

When reviewing report cards from sources like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), focus on patient safety indicators such as hospital-acquired infections, readmission rates within 30 days of discharge, and mortality rates for specific conditions. Also, look for patient experience scores regarding communication with nurses and doctors, as these often correlate with better clinical outcomes and overall satisfaction.
Yes, most accredited specialized facilities are subject to federal and state quality reporting requirements, though the specific metrics may differ. For example, birthing centers report on maternal and infant outcomes, while psychiatric facilities report on safety incidents and readmission rates. You can usually find these reports on the same federal healthcare quality websites used for hospitals, ensuring transparency across different types of care settings.
If you have concerns about the quality of care, first document your experience with dates, names of staff, and specific incidents. You can then file a formal complaint with the facility’s patient relations office or the state’s health department. Additionally, you can report serious safety concerns to the Joint Commission or other accrediting bodies. Keeping a record of your interactions and any medical records involved will strengthen your case and help regulatory bodies investigate.
You should contact your insurance provider directly or log into your patient portal to check the network directory. It is crucial to confirm not only if the facility is in-network but also if the specific specialists or departments you need are covered, as some facilities may have mixed network status for different services. Always ask for an estimate of out-of-pocket costs before scheduling non-urgent care to avoid surprise bills.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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