Level 1 Internal Medicine Hospital Facility
Can be an academic/public/private facility located in an urban, suburban or rural area. The facility should be able to provide sub-specialty services including cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, oncology, nephrology and haematology. There should be a 24-hour service in all major specialties. Total care, beginning from prevention through to rehabilitation, including research and education should be available. The center should serve as a referral point in the region or section of the country.
Level 2 Internal Medicine Hospital Facility
Can be an academic/public/private facility located in an urban, suburban or rural area. The facility should be able to provide a 24-hour medical cover for physician specialist care. Not all sub-specialties may be present, and the facility may therefore be unable to provide comprehensive care to complex medical conditions. Educational outreach, research and prevention programmes may however be possible.
Level 3 Internal Medicine Hospital Facility
Can be an academic/public/private facility located in an urban, suburban or rural area. The facility is staffed by medical officers and there is a physician Specialist available on a 24-hour call. The facility provides prompt assessment, resuscitation and stabilization, and where necessary, arranges for possible transfer to a facility that provides definitive medical care. The facility is able to establish early transfer systems for medical patients beyond its capabilities.
Level 4 Internal Medicine Hospital Facility
Can be an academic/public/private facility located in an urban, suburban or rural area. The facility is a minimally equipped facility staffed by Physician Assistants and Nurses only and runs mostly outpatient clinics with no overnight admissions or surgeries. They can however provide basic first aid care for common medical conditions.