inpatient

An inpatient is a patient who stays in a hospital or other inpatient facility overnight or for an extended period as part of formal admission. Inpatient care contrasts with outpatient or ambulatory care, where services are provided without overnight lodging. Inpatient care is delivered in general medical-surgical units, specialized hospitals, psychiatric facilities, rehabilitation centers, and skilled nursing facilities. Common reasons for admission include surgery requiring anesthesia, serious illness, childbirth, and mental health treatment.

Admissions are ordered by a physician and may be elective, urgent, or emergent. Some patients are placed under observation status, which is different from formal inpatient admission for billing and coverage purposes. During an inpatient stay, the patient generally receives continuous nursing care, access to diagnostic tests, consultations with specialists, medications, and, if needed, operative or rehabilitative services. The care plan typically includes discharge planning and coordination with the patient and family.

Length of stay varies by condition and care needs; most inpatients stay at least one night, but stays can be longer depending on treatment complexity and recovery. Outcomes after hospitalization commonly include discharge to home, transfer to another facility for continued care, or, less commonly, transition to palliative or hospice services.

Billing and payment for inpatient care are usually based on a per-stay rate tied to diagnosis-related groups or other country-specific payment systems, with variations by payer and region. The term “inpatient” thus denotes a model of care centered on overnight, structured supervision and comprehensive hospital services, as opposed to brief visits or outpatient procedures.