inpatients

Inpatients are individuals admitted to a hospital or other inpatient care facility for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring that requires at least one overnight stay, commonly defined as a minimum of 24 hours. The term differentiates from outpatients, who receive care without being kept overnight.

Admission begins with referral or emergency triage, followed by clinical assessment and a physician-ordered plan of care. Inpatients are cared for in designated units such as medical-surgical floors, intensive care units, maternity or pediatric units, psychiatric wards, or rehabilitation services. Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team that may include physicians, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and social workers.

Length of stay varies by condition and treatment. Some admissions are planned, such as elective surgery or childbirth, while others are unplanned. Discharge planning is initiated on admission and involves arranging follow-up care, home health, rehabilitation, or transition to another facility. Reimbursement arrangements and hospital bed management are frequently linked to the patient’s diagnosis and length of stay.

Good inpatient care emphasizes patient safety, infection control, pain management, and medication safety. Privacy and confidentiality are protected under applicable laws and hospital policies. Common challenges include coordinating care across teams, managing limited bed capacity, and preventing hospital-acquired infections.