Trans Healthcare, headquartered in Sparks, Md., provides health care and support to more than 30,000 patients and their families each year through its nationwide network of hospitals, hospice agencies, and centers for the developmentally disabled. Specialty hospitals within the THI network are acute care facilities for patients who require extended hospitalization to meet their medical needs. These patients require frequent physician observation and care, as well as the intense services of an interdisciplinary team. These hospitals continue the care provided by the general acute care hospital for patients who need this level of care for a longer length of time. Patients can then be transitioned to the next appropriate level of care, such as a skilled nursing or subacute facility or home health care. Services available at most specialty hospitals, include diagnostic studies, nutritional support, psycho-social support, cardiopulmonary services, pharmaceutical services, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and nursing. Founded in 1998, THI operates more than 220 health care facilities in 20 states.