Difference Between Outpatient and Inpatient
outpatient vs inpatient
The hospital will normally divide patients into two groups ‘“ inpatients and outpatients. As the words imply, inpatient is one who is treated while staying inside a hospital and outpatient is one who is treated while he is out of the hospital.
Inpatient is a patient who is admitted in the hospital, whereas outpatient is a patient who is not admitted in the hospital. The patients who need close monitoring during some stage of recovery are admitted in hospitals, which means that these patients are inpatients. Those who need no close monitoring are sent back home, which means that these patients are outpatients.
In the case of patients who go for diagnostic tests and stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours, then they are considered to be inpatients. Where the patients stay less than 24 hours when going for diagnostic tests, they are considered outpatients. Most of the time patients are admitted as inpatients if there is a need for several tests.
The outpatients can go to their home after a check up or consultation and sleep during the night in their homes. On the contrary, inpatients spend the night in the hospital beds.
When a patient is admitted as an inpatient, he or she gets more care and is always under the constant watch of a medical practitioner. The inpatient gets more medical attention when compared to outpatients. More care is needed if situations are complicated.
It can also be seen that it costs a lot to be an inpatient as one would have to pay for the extra care that he or she gets. But in the case of outpatient, he just pays for having tests and consultations.
When talking about the difference between inpatients and outpatients, it should be noted that the health insurance companies only pay for inpatients and not for outpatients.
Summary
1. An inpatient is a patient who is admitted to the hospital, whereas an outpatient is a patient who is not admitted to the hospital.
2. In the case of patients who go for diagnostic tests and stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours, they are considered to be inpatients.
3. Where patients stay less than 24 hours when going for diagnostic tests, they are considered outpatients.
4. It can also be seen that it costs a lot to be an inpatient as one would have to pay for the extra care that he or she gets. But in the case of outpatient, he just pays for having tests and consultations.
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2. In the case of patients who go for diagnostic tests and stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours, they are considered to be inpatients.
The above point in the summary is not appropriate, if patient stays more then 24 hours in the hospital until physician admits patient to inpatient for further care this should not be considered Inpatient.