Inpatient Days

In healthcare, “inpatient days” refers to the total number of days that a patient spends admitted to a hospital or other healthcare facility for treatment or care.

 

Admission

The process of formally registering a patient into a healthcare facility for inpatient care, marking the beginning of their inpatient stay.

 

Discharge

The process of releasing a patient from the healthcare facility after completion of treatment, marking the end of their inpatient stay.

 

Length of Stay (LOS)

The duration of time a patient spends in the hospital as an inpatient, typically measured in days.

 

Utilization Management

The process of evaluating the necessity, appropriateness, and efficiency of healthcare services, including inpatient days, to ensure optimal resource allocation and quality of care.

 

Bed Days

Another term used interchangeably with inpatient days, referring to the total number of days that hospital beds are occupied by patients.

 

Average Daily Census (ADC)

A metric used to assess hospital occupancy, calculated by dividing the total inpatient days by the number of days in the reporting period.

 

Case Mix Index (CMI)

A measure used to assess the complexity of patients treated in a healthcare facility, which can impact the utilization of inpatient days.

 

Readmission

The return of a patient to the hospital for inpatient care within a specified period after a previous discharge, often monitored as part of quality improvement efforts.

 

Utilization Review

The evaluation of the appropriateness and necessity of healthcare services, including inpatient days, typically conducted by healthcare professionals or third-party payers to ensure cost-effectiveness and quality of care.