Stop using the term 'acute' to mean hospital-based care

摘要

The words that nurses and other health professionals use to describe where they work is an issue that urgently needs to be addressed. People commonly use the terms "acute" and "community" instead of the more accurate and appropriate "hospital" and "community". Using the terms "acute" and "community" is a confusion of two concepts. One describes the health status of the patient and the other the environment in which the delivery of care is talcing place. It may appear on the surface to be of little consequence but by using the term "acute" to mean hospital-based care, we do a huge disservice to all staff based in the community.