What is the difference between outpatient and inpatient care

A large portion of the revenue generated in health care derives from Medicare patients. When it comes to inpatient vs. Additional examples include:. Outpatient care is administered without an overnight stay in a facility. Outpatient treatments can include routine physical examinations, blood work, urinalysis, CT scans, and chemotherapy sessions. Various types of facilities provide outpatient care. Additional examples of outpatient care facilities include:.

Clinics and hospitals offer different kinds of care. Clinics are much smaller than hospitals and do not offer overnight stays.

Typical examples include cardiology, allergy and immunology, sports medicine, vascular surgery, and urology. In an emergency such as a life-threatening injury or an acute illness, individuals can go to a hospital without an appointment. For nonemergency issues, patients generally must schedule an appointment with a primary care provider, who can then refer them to a specialist if necessary. In addition to emergencies and specialist appointments, patients go to hospitals to receive specific medical treatment or undergo surgery.

In both inpatient and outpatient care settings, they help ensure optimal care delivery, but their daily functions may vary. Their responsibilities can extend to include administration, teaching, and research. Specializations in inpatient settings include the following:. Whether in inpatient or outpatient facilities, nurse practitioners serve a critical role. Medical innovations, the increased digitization of health care, and advancements in care have made it possible for nurse practitioners to take leading roles in patient care.

In many states, they can serve as primary caregivers. An advanced degree such as a Doctor of Nursing Practice can help nurses advance their careers and take on leadership roles in various health care settings. Second, outpatient procedures almost always cost less than comparable inpatient procedures.

Even patients who have good health insurance can still see significant savings by electing to have an outpatient procedure rather than an inpatient one. In many cases, the difference between outpatient and inpatient care is thousands of dollars. Thanks to advances in medical techniques and technology, many treatments, such as physical rehabilitation, can be done as outpatient care.

Some minor surgeries can also be performed as outpatient procedures. Why Trust Our Content? Looking for Health Insurance? Provide a Valid ZipCode. Search Now. Answer a few questions to get multiple personalized quotes in minutes. Start Here. Was this article helpful? Thanks for your feedback!

If you're new to health insurance, sign up for our healthcare newsletter to help you along every step of the way. Inaccurate Hard To Understand Other. Share this article. Related Articles. Updated: November 8th, By Dan Grunebaum. Updated: November 2nd, By Dan Grunebaum. Updated: October 12th, By Deborah Gordon. Effective care requires that doctors work together and effectively leverage health care technology , regardless of their specialties and settings.

Many physicians also divide their time between inpatient and outpatient services. Generally speaking, inpatients have contact with a larger group of providers. During a hospital stay, you could interact with physicians, nurse practitioners, lab technicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and physician assistants. The difference between inpatient versus outpatient care matters for patients because it will ultimately affect your eventual bill.

Outpatient care involves fees related to the doctor and any tests performed. Inpatient care also includes additional facility-based fees.