Micro-hospitals are gaining traction as they offer valuable emergency services

 

Micro-hospitals are essentially small medical facilities that provide emergency services around the clock. Unlike freestanding emergency departments, these facilities can offer surgical options and inpatient care. While many of the services that a large hospital can provide are not available at a micro-hospital, they still provide valuable services.

Unlike large hospitals, micro-hospitals have lower capital requirements. The facilities are often 30,000 to 60,000 square feet in size. They often function as a health complex with physician offices and ancillary service lines. They provide pre-acute care to communities without a large investment. These facilities are more sophisticated than retail clinics and are generally located within neighborhoods. In addition to offering comprehensive medical services, these facilities also reduce costs for local businesses and neighborhoods.

Despite the low overhead, these hospitals must still meet the same minimum standards for medical staff as conventional hospitals. They must have medical staff and must adhere to FPPE and FGI architectural guidelines. These hospitals are typically smaller than their larger counterparts, which makes the process of credentialing easier to manage. They should have a medical staff that is authorized to practice in that specific location.

The growing popularity of Micro-hospitals in the United States suggests that this trend will continue to grow. However, most of these facilities are located in large cities and suburban areas and are deemed too complex for rural markets. Nonetheless, some experts argue that these facilities could benefit rural areas by providing convenient access to comprehensive medical services. This way, patients would be able to receive better care and avoid lengthy travel time. Further, they are likely to be more cost-effective than traditional hospitals. They are a valuable part of the health care system, but they do not have the same scale of services as their larger counterparts.