Services provided by highly specialized providers (e.g., neurologists, neurosurgeons, thoracic surgeons, intensive care units). Such services frequently require highly sophisticated technological and support facilities. The development of these services has largely been a function of diagnostic and therapeutic advances attained through basic and clinical biomedical research.
Care of a highly technical and specialized nature, provided in a medical center (usually one affiliated with a university), for patients with unusually severe, complex, or uncommon problems. Tertiary care is the highest level of care.
The services provided by special hospitals or doctors who are uniquely qualified to treat rare or unusual disorders that do not respond to therapy that is available at general hospitals or from secondary care physicians.
A level of medical care avail able only in large medical care institutions. It includes techniques and methods of therapy and diagnosis involving equipment and personnel not economically feasible in a smaller institution because of underutilization.