Which of the following is NOT a principal type of ownership for inpatient care facilities?

Corporate ownership is not traditionally categorized as a principal type of ownership for inpatient care facilities. Inpatient care facilities can primarily be classified into three main ownership types: private for-profit organizations, government-owned facilities (which can be federal, state, or local), and private nonprofit organizations.

Private for-profit ownership refers to facilities that are operated for the purpose of generating profit for their owners. Government ownership implies that facilities are funded and operated by governmental bodies, focusing on providing care to the public rather than profit. Private nonprofit facilities are created to serve a community need and reinvest any surplus revenues back into the facility or community services, rather than distributing profits to shareholders.

Corporate ownership may refer to large healthcare systems or conglomerates that possess several facilities, but it does not specify the profit orientation or the operational nature of the ownership. Therefore, it doesn’t fit neatly into the principal categories that classify how inpatient care facilities are owned and operated. This distinction clarifies why corporate ownership is not identified as one of the principal types.