LTAC
Pronunciation: EL-tak
Also written as: LTAC — Long-Term Acute Care
Specialized hospital providing extended acute care services for medically complex patients requiring prolonged treatment.
Full Definition
Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC) hospitals are specialized facilities that provide acute care services for patients who require extended hospitalization, typically 25 days or longer on average. LTAC hospitals serve patients who are medically complex and stable but require ongoing acute-level medical and nursing care that cannot be provided in traditional settings. In rehabilitation medicine, LTAC facilities often serve as a bridge between intensive care and rehabilitation services for patients with multiple medical complications, prolonged mechanical ventilation, or complex wounds requiring specialized treatment before beginning intensive rehabilitation.
Usage
Usage note: Pronounce as individual letters (L-T-A-C) or as word (LTAC); verify local preference.
In Context
- "The patient was transferred to an LTAC facility for ventilator weaning before rehabilitation admission." — Discharge summary
- "LTAC criteria require an average length of stay greater than 25 days." — Hospital policy manual