Final answer:
The key difference between an adult hospital and a pediatric hospital is the patient age group served. Adult hospitals focus on adults, while pediatric hospitals cater to children up to age 18.
Step-by-step explanation:
One key difference between an adult hospital and a pediatric hospital is b) Patient age group served. Adult hospitals primarily provide care for adults, usually those who are 18 years of age and older, whereas pediatric hospitals specialize in the medical needs of infants, children, and adolescents up to the age of 18. This distinction influences many aspects of care, including the design of medical equipment, the types of illnesses treated, and the expertise of the healthcare staff.
While factors such as the size of the hospital, the location, or the number of staff members may vary between hospitals, these are not characteristics that define them as adult or pediatric institutions. These differences are also present within the same category of hospitals. For example, both a nonprofit health organization and a private hospital may operate pediatric facilities, just like a governmental agency like Health and Social Services may offer pediatric care at some of its facilities.