Traditional Level Of Health Care System

The traditional levels of the healthcare system are described by the complexity of the medical conditions and the extent of services provided by healthcare professionals.

In the US, there are six traditional levels of healthcare: preventive, primary, secondary, tertiary, restorative, and continuing healthcare.

In a preventive community health screening, consider a patient who is identified with high blood sugar and a chronic foot ulcer. The nurse educates the patient on dietary management.

Further, he is referred to primary healthcare. If diagnosed with a diabetic foot, his wound would be cleaned and dressed, and then he would be prescribed medicines to control blood sugar.

However, to assess the severity of the wound, he may be further referred to a secondary healthcare center.

Here, radiological investigations are performed. If there is bone involvement, the patient may be advised to undergo an ankle-level amputation to prevent the spread of infection.

After surgery, the patient will be transferred to tertiary care, like an ICU, where specialized care and counseling are provided.

Once the patient recovers, he is referred to restorative care for rehabilitation and, finally, to continuing care for long-term care, like assisted living.