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If you or a loved one are admitted to Story County Medical Center,
you will be located on the Acute Care Unit of the hospital. Story County Medical
Center has a 17 bed Acute Care Unit. Patients on the Acute Care Unit are inpatients,
which means they will be cared for at the hospital rather than at home. As a patient
on the Acute Care Unit, you or your loved one may be one of the following five classifications
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Medical Acute Care
Acute Care is short-term medical treatment for patients having an illness or injury
that exhibits a rapid onset followed by a short, severe course.
Surgical Acute Care
Surgical Acute Care is medical treatment and care given to patients who have recently
undergone surgery.
Skilled Care
Skilled Care is care given on an
inpatient, 24-hour basis designed to help a patient recover from illness, injury
or surgery; function more independently; and/or learn to care for his/her own health
needs. Patients who have undergone surgery may be reassigned from Surgical Acute
Care to Skilled Care for extended rehabilitation.
Respite Care
Respite Care is short-term or temporary care (from a few hours to a few weeks) given
to a sick or disabled patient to provide relief, or respite, to the regular caregiver,
usually a family member.
Observation Status
A patient may be placed in Observation by a physician while the physician determines
the best level of care the patient needs. A patient may be in Observation while
he/she awaits testing or the results of tests already performed.
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