Susie registers at the ER department with severe abdominal pain, and is diagnosed with acute appendicitis. This is an example of which level of care?

This scenario illustrates secondary care, which is typically provided by specialists or emergency departments following a referral from primary care providers. In this case, Susie presents in the emergency room with a significant health issue that requires immediate attention and specialized medical intervention, leading to her diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Secondary care is characterized by more specialized services that are beyond the scope of primary care. Emergency departments like the one Susie visited are designed to handle acute conditions that necessitate urgent care from healthcare professionals who can perform advanced diagnostic procedures and treatments, which in this case involves the assessment and potential surgical intervention for appendicitis.

Primary care, in contrast, refers to the first point of contact within the healthcare system, usually provided by general practitioners or family doctors for non-urgent health issues and preventive measures. Tertiary care involves specialized consultative services, often in a hospital setting, that require advanced expertise and resources, such as complex surgeries or managing chronic conditions, while quaternary care refers to an even higher level of specialized care, often involving experimental treatments and procedures. In this instance, since the emergency department is responding to a medical emergency and providing specialized treatment, the correct classification of care is secondary care.