Inpatient care means that a patient has to stay overnight at the hospital after a procedure. Whereas outpatient care means that a person can be released the same day as the procedure.
Inpatient Care
Inpatient care is typically provided in a hospital or other type of medical facility where you are admitted for at least one night following a procedure or illness.
When you are admitted to a facility, you are under the care of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Being admitted means that you need constant care and monitoring that is not available as an outpatient.
Here are some examples of inpatient care:
- Knee replacement surgery
- Childbirth
- Heart attack
- Traumatic injury
Outpatient Care
Outpatient care can mean many things. But, in essence, it means that you do not require an overnight stay in a healthcare facility. In other words, treatment and/or testing can be done without being admitted.
Outpatient care can be provided at a hospital, walk-in clinic, doctor’s office, or surgery center.
Here are some examples of outpatient care:
- Lasik eye surgery
- Colonoscopy
- Root canal
- Mammogram
Cost Difference
The cost difference between inpatient and outpatient care can be significant. In addition to the cost of the surgery and/or treatment, there are other costs associated with being an inpatient such as:
- Equipment
- Nurses
- Pharmacy
- Administrative costs
- Food
- And many others
The cost of outpatient care is significantly less because you aren’t provided around the clock care like you are when you are admitted to a healthcare facility.