Outpatient care
Outpatient care
Outpatient care (pronunciation: /ˈaʊtˌpeɪʃənt keər/) refers to the medical care and treatment that is provided to a patient who is not admitted to a hospital. This type of care is often provided in a medical facility such as a clinic or doctor's office, but it can also be provided in a patient's home.
Etymology
The term "outpatient" comes from the fact that patients are going out of the hospital to receive care. It is derived from the words "out" (meaning not in) and "patient" (meaning a person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment).
Related terms
- Ambulatory care: This is a type of medical care that is provided on an outpatient basis. It includes a wide range of medical services and procedures that are performed without the need for an overnight hospital stay.
- Primary care: This is the day-to-day healthcare given by a health care provider. It is often the first point of contact for patients and coordinates other specialist care that the patient may need.
- Home care: This is supportive care provided in the home by healthcare professionals. It may be provided by licensed healthcare professionals who provide medical treatment or by professional caregivers who provide daily assistance.
- Telemedicine: This is the use of telecommunication and information technology to provide clinical health care from a distance. It has been used to overcome distance barriers and to improve access to medical services that would often not be consistently available in distant rural communities.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Outpatient care
- Wikipedia's article - Outpatient care
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