Outpatient is an outpatient department of a hospital or health care institution in which patients are treated and supervised outside the main building. Patients are typically permitted to leave the center for activities such as shopping, visiting friends and relatives, attending school, going to work, etc.
Outpatient units may also be set up at hospitals for special cases of chronic illnesses requiring more intensive treatment, yet patients can live outside a hospital setting. The term “outpatient” usually refers to medical treatments rather than physical therapy or rehabilitation. In this piece, we will go through the different types of outpatient.
Types of Outpatient
Acute Doctoring: This is when a patient who has just been admitted to the hospital must have their medication corrected, or their medical condition must be monitored and treated at this level. This type of outpatient usually receives treatment from a specialist in their area of specialty, such as a cardiologist for heart conditions, an oncologist for cancers and other life-threatening illnesses, etc.
Ambulatory Care: This type of outpatient is being treated by a doctor at the doctor’s office, or a care center, with most or all of the follow-up care being done on an outpatient basis. A person may be referred to ambulatory care for reasons such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and pregnancy.
Continuing Care: This program is designed for elderly individuals with disabilities that are getting worse and require several specialists to treat them. This can be done by the patients themselves or through family members. A patient and their family would have an ongoing relationship with the specialists who would monitor the patient’s condition every several months.
Home Care This outpatient care is provided to patients in their own homes. This allows the family to care for them and minimize stress. It is also less costly when compared with hospitalization. Patients may be referred to home care if they have problems such as Alzheimer’s disease or cancer, and need constant monitoring and medication.
Long-Term Care: This type of outpatient is for the purpose of long-term treatment or recovery from a long-term illness or injury, such as arthritis, cancer, heart disease, and stroke rehab. The benefit is that the patient does not have to be transported to a hospital for treatment or follow-up care. This type of patient is typically under the care of a specialist in their area of specialty, who oversees their treatment and rehabilitation.
Ambulatory Palliative Care: This type of outpatient is usually done in an intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital, but some patients may need their medications changed on an outpatient basis. They may be admitted to the hospital when they become very ill or when the health situation becomes critical. In this type of outpatient, the patient must be closely monitored in case their condition worsens and needs immediate treatment or care.
Rural Health Care: This type of outpatient is typically done in an office at home or in a hospital outpatient department, which is geared toward providing help to rural communities, who may not have adequate medical care options compared to urban areas. Patients may be able to get treatment for a variety of conditions, such as those found in rural areas, but may be more limited because of their location.
Mobility Care: In this type of outpatient mobility care, patients are given treatment for any ongoing condition that is affecting their physical ability to perform daily activities. Patients on mobility care may have to have some follow-up care at home, or they may have to go back and forth from home to the hospital outpatient department.
Maternity & Adolescent Outpatient Care: This type of outpatient is for a patient who is pregnant or just had a baby and needs follow-up care from the doctor after delivery. Most of the follow-up care may need to be done on an outpatient basis because of the mother’s physical condition. The only visit that may require hospitalization at this stage would be if the baby is in distress or if the mother has a high fever.
In conclusion, there are different types of outpatient programs for people who need follow-up care for ongoing conditions, those who are being treated for acute illnesses or injuries, and other special cases. If you need help finding an outpatient, don’t hesitate to contact us today at 833-610-1174.