"observation admit"
In reality, the entire concept is a bureaucratic miscreant. The requirements needed to justify a hospital admission can be strict to the point of being strange. There are many, many people who do this for a living - big part of their job is trying to figure out what qualifies as an acute admit, and what is "observation".
When in doubt, they start off with "observation" - knowing that the hospital will at least get paid something, rather then receive a flat denial.
For example, a man presents with chest pains. If there is doubt about the nature of the pain, this patient will get admitted as observation. If by the morning it becomes obvious that the pain is not of a dangerous variety, this person goes home. If instead it becomes clear that he's having a heart attack.... why, then he'll get changed to "acute" care.
I can see how this might make sense if the person were to remain in the Emergency Department. However, in reality it's not different from a regular admission.
Silly, complicated, expensive, confusing, unnecessary dance, imho.... |
