Acute Care Glossary Index Acute care is usually delivered in a hospital setting by specialized personnel using complex and sophisticated technical equipment and materials.   A pattern of health care in which a patient is treated for an acute (immediate and severe) episode of illness; for the subsequent treatment of injuries related to an accident or other trauma; or during recovery from surgery.   Unlike chronic care, acute care is usually only delivered over a short time span of 30 days or less.   "Acute care is where the principal clinical intent is to do one of the following: manage labour (obstetric); cure illness or provide definitive treatment of injury; perform surgery; relieve symptoms of illness or injury (excluding palliative care); reduce severity of an illness or injury; protect against exacerbation and/or complication of an illness and/or injury which could threaten life or normal function; or perform therapeutic procedures." Glossary Health Performance Reports