UAB Synopsis, Vol. 24, No. 3, January 31, 2005
Changes to the PIN ADMIT TO screens enable users to more appropriately select the correct patient type. Medicare guidelines require an initial admit type order on the patient chart. To comply with federal guidelines, it is important to enter an initial admit type order and select the appropriate planned patient type. The new screen, which will assist with the type selection, offers the following choices:
Bedded Outpatient: Register To
- Ambulatory Surgery <A>
- Labor/Delivery <V>
- Interventional/Diagnostic Services <Q>
Observation Outpatient: Place patient on observation status
Inpatient: Admit as inpatient
Change patient type
Users can press F5 for the definitions of these choices from the PIN ADMIT TO screen. Here are the definitions:
Bedded outpatient: an outpatient occupying a bed and receiving outpatient services but not admitted for acute inpatient care. It is anticipated the patient will receive services the same day and be discharged within 24 hours. This category includes ambulatory surgery, labor/delivery outpatients, and interventional/diagnostic services.
Observation outpatient: an outpatient occupying a bed to determine need for inpatient admission, which should be made within 24 hours. Observation status may also be used following an outpatient procedure if an unexpected event calls for observation.
Inpatient: a patient occupying a nursing unit bed and in need of acute care services. It is anticipated the patient will need to remain in the hospital for more than 24 hours and meet applicable intensity of services/severity of illness criteria for inpatient admission.
Users can also change patient types from this screen. When changing patient types, keep in mind:
- A bedded outpatient may become an observation patient or an inpatient. Either change requires a PIN order to change patient type.
- An observation patient may become an inpatient. This change requires a PIN order to change patient type.
- An observation patient may not be changed to a bedded outpatient status.
- An inpatient may be changed to either bedded outpatient or observation status only if the inpatient order was entered in error. This must be documented. Either change requires a PIN order to change patient type and documentation in the medical record of the initial inpatient status having been an error.