inpatient

American  

[in-pey-shuhnt] / ˈɪnˌpeɪ ʃənt /

noun

1. a patient who stays in a hospital while receiving medical care or treatment.

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inpatient British  

/ ˈɪnˌpeɪʃənt /

noun

1. a hospital patient who occupies a bed for at least one night in the course of treatment, examination, or observation Compare outpatient

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Usage

What does inpatient mean? Inpatient is commonly used as an adjective to describe treatment that requires a patient to be admitted to a hospital or other care facility for at least one night.Inpatient is used in contrast with the term outpatient, which describes treatment that does not require a patient to stay overnight.The terms are especially used in phrases like inpatient treatment (which requires the patient to stay overnight at the hospital), inpatient room (where such patients stay), and outpatient procedure (after which the patient can leave, instead of staying for further observation or treatment).Both terms can also be used as nouns referring to such patients.Inpatient is typically used in the context of hospitals, but it can also refer to a patient of a mental health facility or other kinds of clinics.Example: This type of surgery requires inpatient care—typically consisting of a one-week hospital stay.

Etymology

Origin of inpatient

First recorded in 1750–60; in- ¹ + patient

Example Sentences

She took a break from skating in 2015 to seek help at an inpatient facility.

From Los Angeles Times

The BBC's research revealed that Aneurin Bevan University health board in south-east Wales had adopted a scheme enabling staff, patients, families and carers to ask for a second opinion about inpatients whose conditions deteriorate quickly.

From BBC

The Belfast Trust said the demands for a hospital bed are considerably more than the number of beds available, with patients facing long waits as staff discharge as many medically fit inpatients as possible.

From BBC

Some 20,000 adults and children affected by terminal illness receive support from hospices each year and Welsh hospices have 95 inpatient beds, although some might not be in use because of funding and staffing.

From BBC

The researchers noted that the study relied on administrative diagnosis codes from inpatient and outpatient Medicare insurance claims rather than detailed clinical evaluations.

From Science Daily