In-patient vs Out-patient: what's the difference? | Bupa UK (2024)

FAQs

In-patient vs Out-patient: what's the difference? | Bupa UK? ›

In-patient covers you for procedures or treatments that need you to stay in hospital overnight. Out-patient covers you for procedures and treatments where you don't stay in overnight or occupy a bed for the day.

The main difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment is in the way you attend for care. As an inpatient, you can expect to stay in the hospital overnight. Outpatient treatment is delivered in a series of appointments where you can go home in between.

An inpatient is a hospital patient who, in most cases, stays in the hospital overnight and meets a set of clinical criteria. Outpatients are people who receive care or hospital services and return home the same day.

The basic difference between inpatient and outpatient care is that inpatient care requires a hospital stay and outpatient care does not. As an inpatient, you receive medical treatment as well as food and lodging in a hospital.

Listen to pronunciation. (OWT-pay-shunt) A patient who visits a health care facility for diagnosis or treatment without spending the night. Sometimes called a day patient.

If you have an appointment in a hospital or clinic but do not need to stay overnight, it means you're being treated as an outpatient or a day patient. You may be having an appointment for treatment, diagnosis or a procedure.

If you have been referred to hospital for an operation or test and you need to stay overnight, it means you're being treated as an inpatient.

Outpatient care is usually any non-emergency surgery or medical procedure that does not require overnight hospitalization. Minor surgeries and procedures can be handled in an outpatient setting. Outpatient treatment is usually less expensive and less invasive than inpatient treatment.

Whether a patient is an inpatient or receives observation services depends on the length of stay. Under the rule, patients in the intensive care unit can be classified as outpatients if their stay is less than two midnights,” Sheehy says.

Inpatient care is designed to treat conditions that require the patient to stay at least one night in a care-related facility. Several facility types fall under this category, including acute care facilities, rehabilitation centers, addiction treatment facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and long-term care facilities.

What is an in and out procedure? ›

Think of it as a drive-through hospital, where everything is an outpatient procedure.

Outpatient surgery is when you have a surgical procedure done and then later that same day you go home. Outpatient surgery can also be called ​“same-day” surgery or ambulatory surgery. Inpatient surgery, on the other hand, is when you have surgery and are required to spend at least one night in the hospital.

Inpatient and outpatient recovery are two different models that can help people get started. Inpatient rehab is a supportive environment where you can get 24/7 care as you detox. Outpatient rehab is a more flexible program you can attend part-time, often without missing work and other obligations.

Also called ambulatory care, this term defines any service or treatment that doesn't require hospitalization. An annual exam with your primary care physician is an example of outpatient care, but so are emergent cases where the patient leaves the emergency department the same day they arrive.

Outpatient care is defined as hospital or medical facility care that you receive without being admitted or for a stay of less than 24 hours (even if this stay occurs overnight). Outpatient care also includes any health care services that you receive while at the facility.

You become an 'inpatient' when you are admitted to a hospital for treatment. You're an 'outpatient' if you receive medical services without being admitted into hospital, including specialist appointments, post-surgical follow-up consultations, prenatal visits, diagnostic imaging, pathology, or emergency triage.

What is the difference between outpatient and inpatient treatment? Outpatient is ambulatory care where medical care is given without the patient being admitted to a hospital. Inpatient is acute care which where treatment is given when the patient is admitted to the hospital.

What is the difference between inpatient and outpatient services? Inpatient is a term used to indicate an overnight stay in a health care facility, such as a hospital. Outpatient refers to services provided while the patient is not lodged in a health care facility.

An in-patient is someone who stays in hospital while they receive their treatment. In-patient is also an adjective.