Which level of health care includes emergency care and acute medical-surgical services?

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

Answer: (C)

Secondary health care consists of hospital-based services beyond the initial contact with a primary care provider, including emergency departments and acute medical-surgical care. This level covers specialist consultations, urgent diagnostics, and inpatient treatment that require more resources and facility access than primary care can provide, but not the highly specialized, complex interventions found in tertiary centers. For example, someone with a sudden injury or an acute illness who arrives at the emergency department and may be admitted for short-term inpatient care or surgery is receiving secondary care. Primary care is the first-contact, preventive and ongoing community-based care. Tertiary care involves highly specialized, complex treatments typically available at advanced teaching or specialty centers. Population-based health care focuses on public health and the health of populations rather than a specific level of clinical care.