Inpatient Coding

 

An inpatient is an individual who has been properly admitted to the hospital upon a physician’s order. The patient will remain classified as an inpatient until one day before discharge. 

Staying in the hospital overnight does not necessarily mean that the patient is considered an inpatient.

Inpatient coding is related to the patient’s extended stay service.  Examples of Inpatient facilities include acute and long-term care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospices, and home health services.

During the stay, the patient may have a variety of tests run, will have changes in diagnosis and treatments. A lengthy stay usually results in extensive and intricate patient records which makes it important to have an experienced medical inpatient coder doing the job.