Hospitalized, but Not Admitted: Admission Status

Inpatient versus Observation: Practical
Points
• Days do matter, and a proper status needs to be in place
as soon as possible
• We can’t bill for services until the proper status order is
written
• Changes patient’s bill and benefits dramatically
• Early management of patient expectations
• This all plays into the bottom line, financially and in terms
of clinical ratings
• The “23-hour rule” is irrelevant