Which level of health care includes intensive care and subacute care?

• A. Tertiary health care
• B. Primary health care
• C. Secondary health care
• D. Population-based health care

Answer: (A)

Intensive care and subacute care are provided in settings that handle highly specialized and complex medical needs. Tertiary health care refers to this level of care, delivered in advanced, referral centers equipped with intensive care units and subacute units to manage severe or complicated conditions requiring specialized diagnostics, procedures, and ongoing rehabilitation. Primary health care covers routine first-contact and preventive services, while secondary health care offers more specialized services at general hospitals but not the highly specialized, technology-driven care typical of ICUs and subacute units. Population-based health care is a public health approach rather than a level of clinical care. So, the level that includes intensive care and subacute care is tertiary health care.