Hospitals and outpatient specialist clinics to which people go, after referral from primary health care services. These services are generally more specialized and further from where people live. They often include a greater range of diagnostic services such as X-ray and pathological laboratory services; they may also include specialized treatment, such as operating theaters, radiotherapy, and certain drug therapies not normally available in primary care.
The principal difference between primary and secondary services is the range and specialization of the available staff.
Community health can also be improved with improvements in individuals’ environments. Community health status is determined by the environmental characteristics, behavioral characteristics, and social cohesion in the environment of that community. Appropriate modifications in the environment can help to prevent unhealthy behaviors and adverse health outcomes.