1. Expected levels of achievement or specifications against which performance can be assessed. 2. Guidelines or standards of medical care that compare the necessity, appropriateness, or quality of medical services.

Freestanding hospital emergency department that gives limited inpatient care to stabilize a patient before discharge or transfer to an essential access community hospital (EACH) for extensive treatment. This was established as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program to replace the Essential Access Community and Rural Primary Care Hospital Programs.

Intensive care provided in a variety of settings for acute life-threatening conditions that requires constant bedside attention by a physician.

Area or section within a hospital facility with special equipment designed for treatment of patients with sudden, life-threatening conditions such as intensive care unit (ICU), medical intensive care unit (MICU), surgical intensive care unit (SICU), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), coronary care unit (CCU), and the burn unit.