Wiki Bill outpatient or inpatient?

[1073358]

Patient presents to the Ambulatory Care unit. The cardiologist performs a heart cath and makes the decision the patient needs to be admitted, and that the cardiothoracic surgeon needs to see the patient in consultation to determine if the patient is a surgical candidate. The cardiothoracic surgeon sees the patient in the ambulatory care unit as the patient is waiting for an inpatient bed; however, the cardiologist possibly already hand wrote the orders for the admission. Would this consultation done by the cardiothoracic surgeons be considered an inpatient consultation or an outpatient consultation? Example: Cardiology writes admit orders at 10 a.m., heart surgeon sees patient at 10:30 a.m., patient sent to inpatient bed at 1 p.m.

 

[ARCPC9491]

hmm...

my initial thought is inpatient....

however, I would check with the hospital and see when they changed the status from outpatient to inpatient and go by what they say.

 

[jas0426]

It should be based on when the order was written; however, I often find errors in the medical records....my suggestion is to make a contact in that department that can help you when you need to have the IP status changed so that it matches what is actually done.


Have a great day!