An episode of acute care for an admitted patient is one in which the principal clinical intent is to do one or more of the following:
- manage labour (obstetric);
- cure illness or provide definitive treatment of injury;
- perform surgery;
- relieve symptoms of illness or injury (excluding palliative care);
- reduce severity of illness or injury;
- protect against exacerbation and/or complication of an illness and/or injury which could threaten life or normal functions;
- perform diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

Institutional health care