outpatient

American  

[out-pey-shuhnt] / ˈaʊtˌpeɪ ʃənt /

Or out-patient

noun

1. a patient who receives treatment at a hospital, as in an emergency room or clinic, but is not hospitalized.

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outpatient British  

/ ˈaʊtˌpeɪʃənt /

noun

1. a nonresident hospital patient Compare inpatient

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Usage

What does outpatient mean? Outpatient is commonly used as an adjective to describe treatment that does not require a patient to stay overnight at a hospital or other care facility—they come and leave on the same day.Outpatient is used in contrast with the term inpatient, which describes treatment that requires a patient to be admitted for at least one night.The terms are especially used in phrases like outpatient procedure (after which the patient can leave, instead of staying for further observation or treatment), inpatient treatment (which requires the patient to stay overnight at the hospital), and inpatient room (where such patients stay).Outpatient and inpatient are typically used in the context of hospitals, though inpatient can also refer to a patient who is admitted overnight at a mental health facility or other kind of clinic.Both terms can also be used as nouns referring to such patients.Example: I have an outpatient procedure scheduled for tomorrow morning, so I should be back home by the afternoon.

Etymology

Origin of outpatient

First recorded in 1705–15; out- + patient

Example Sentences

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

Visitors are being asked to stay away and all planned outpatient appointments on Sunday have been cancelled.

From BBC

Salt intake was estimated based on three 24-hour dietary recalls and combined with 2022 data from the national claims database, which includes information on hospitalizations, outpatient care, and mortality within France's health care system.

From Science Daily

The King has been receiving cancer treatment as an outpatient since early February 2024.

From BBC

Because the device is portable, fast, and non-invasive, it could eventually be used in outpatient settings as part of routine cardiovascular risk assessments.

From Science Daily

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