Comparative Analysis: Inpatient and Outpatient Services

Comparative Analysis: Inpatient and Outpatient Services Name Institution Comparative Analysis: Inpatient and Outpatient Services Patient care, including surgery and treatment, takes place either in an inpatient or an outpatient setting. There are various differences between an inpatient setting and an outpatient setting. Understanding these differences is imperative because it enables healthcare professionals to appreciate the benefits and challenges of each setting. Consequently, they can be able to utilize the best setting so as to enhance patient care and improve patient outcome. While patients in an outpatient setting can leave soon after they receive treatment or a procedure, those in an inpatient setting are required to stay in the hospital at least overnight. According to Delpeuch, Leveque, Gourieux, and Herbrecht (2015), patients in an inpatient setting receive enhanced monitoring and round-the-clock care. This is attributable to the amount of time they spend in the hospital due to the severity of their condition. On one hand, in inpatient settings, patients are hospitalized or admitted to a facility for a given period of time to allow for recovery and continuous monitoring. For instance, a skilled nursing facility offers inpatient services to elderly patients who have been hospitalized for acute conditions (Vasilevskis, et al., 2016). Such patients are usually transferred to a skilled nursing facility which allows them to receive care that will enable them to finally go home. The services provided include bed and board, medical care from registered nurses, and rehabilitative care (Toles, Colon-Emeric, Naylor, Barroso, & Anderson, 2016). During their stay in skilled nursing facilities, patients receive care from different personnel depending on their health needs. According to Toles, et al. (2016), key personnel in this setting include nurses, rehabilitation therapists, physicians, and social workers who not only provide transitional care to patients but also offer their services to family caregivers. However, despite the fact that patients receive round-the-clock care, they face the risk of infection and readmission to hospitals. As Vasilevskis, et al. (2016) posit, one of the causes of readmissions is poor diagnosis and therapy in the inpatient setting. However, it is worth noting that this inpatient setting allows the patient to take time away from their normal life to fully recuperate. The skilled nursing facility usually receives support from the rehabilitation department which provides physical, speech, and occupational therapy to patients to help them transition back to their normal life. They also receive support from hospitals, especially in cases of readmission (Vasilevskis, et al., 2016). Further, they receive support from hospital-based physicians who have to provide them with patient information for care continuity. On the other hand, outpatient settings do not require a patient to be admitted to a healthcare facility. Patients in such a setting receive care and continue with their day-to-day activities. For instance, home healthcare is an outpatient healthcare service that allows patients to receive healthcare in their own homes (Verulava, Adeishvili, & Maglakelidze, 2016). This outpatient setting all...