hospitalism: Meaning and Definition of

hos•pi•tal•ism

Pronunciation: (hos'pi-tl-iz"um), [key]
— n.
  1. hospital conditions having an adverse effect on patients.
  2. the adverse mental and physical effects caused by such conditions.
  3. the physiological and psychological consequences of living in a hospital, nursing home, etc.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.