A Teaching Hospital is a healthcare facility that provides clinical education and training to future and current health professionals, including medical students, nursing students, residents, and fellows.
These hospitals are often affiliated with medical schools and are integral to the practical training component of medical education. They offer a wide range of services, from primary care to the most advanced medical and surgical interventions, and are typically equipped with the latest technologies and research facilities.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designates a hospital as a teaching hospital if it has an accredited residency training program through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or is directly involved in training medical residents. This designation is significant because it qualifies the hospital for certain types of federal funding, including Indirect Medical Education (IME) and Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME) payments.
While both teaching hospitals and academic medical centers are involved in education and patient care, academic medical centers encompass a broader scope. An academic medical center includes not only the teaching hospital but also a medical school and sometimes other health profession schools (such as nursing or pharmacy), and often a significant research component. Teaching hospitals primarily focus on providing clinical training and patient care, whereas academic medical centers are centers for education, research, and patient care, all integrated into one institution.
Teaching hospitals are at the forefront of medical research and innovation, often leading the way in developing and implementing the latest medical treatments and technologies. The presence of medical students and residents, under the supervision of experienced faculty, contributes to a highly attentive and thorough patient care environment.
Teaching hospitals play a vital role in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals, ensuring that the healthcare system continues to evolve and improve.