Final answer:
Continuous 24-hour care by licensed medical professionals is known as skilled nursing care. This differs from hospice care, which provides comfort for terminally ill patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
Continuous 24-hour care provided by licensed medical professionals under the direct supervision of a physician is called skilled nursing care. This type of care typically occurs in a facility such as a nursing home or a specialized care unit within a hospital, where medical staff like registered nurses and therapy providers can attend to patients' medical needs around the clock. Contrary to hospice care, which focuses on providing comfort and support to terminally ill patients at the end-of-life stage, skilled nursing care may involve rehabilitative services or medical interventions that are necessary on a temporary or long-term basis. Hospice care is integrated with a philosophy of care that accepts death as the final stage of life, where the goal is not to cure the disease but to offer comfort and dignity to the dying patient. Hospice services can be administered in various settings including the patient's home.