TYPE OF HOSPITAL ADMISSION

Types of Hospital Admissions

There are two major types of admissions, 1) elective and 2) emergency admissions, but there are
some variations. The following is a brief description of the major and other admission types:

Elective admission: You have a known medical condition or complaint that requires further workup,
treatment, or surgery.

The admission itself may be delayed until a time is convenient for both you and your doctor.

In most cases of elective admission, you will come to the hospital's admitting office.

You may be instructed to go to the hospital several days in advance for lab work, X-rays, ECGs, or
other prescreening tests.

If you require elective surgery and think you may need a blood transfusion during surgery, ask your
doctor if you can set aside or donate blood for yourself, in advance, in case it is required.

Emergency admission: This occurs through the emergency department. You may be admitted to a
floor, a specialized unit (for example, the medical or surgical intensive care unit), or a holding
(observation) unit.

Same-day surgery: Technically, this is not an admission.

With same-day surgery or ambulatory surgery, your doctor will schedule a procedure that will be
performed at the hospital.

You are discharged home the same day after you recover from the procedure.

Holding unit or observation admission: This admission often takes place through the emergency
department.

In this case, you are admitted for diagnostic testing.

Unless something shows up positive, you will be discharged within 24-48 hours. You have chest pain,
for example, that appears not to be related to your heart, but the emergency department or your
doctor cannot be 100% sure. Or you may be admitted to a holding unit for up to 48 hours to ensure
you didn't have a heart attack. If you had a heart attack, you would be upgraded to full admission. If
not, you would be discharged and sent to your doctor for further testing, which might include a
stress test, cardiac catheterization, or other testing. The cost to you and your insurance company will
be much less because you are not admitted to the hospital.

Direct admission: You have spoken to or seen your doctor, who feels you need to be admitted.
Your doctor may arrange an ambulance to take you to the hospital or may request that you go to the
hospital yourself.

In cases of direct admission, ask your doctor which hospital to go to.

Your doctor may reserve a bed and want you to go directly to the floor (or admitting office).

Transfer: You may be transferred to another hospital for several reasons, including the following:

You can request a transfer at any time but be aware it will take some time to find an accepting
doctor and/or hospital bed.

Your doctor does not practice at the hospital you initially went to.

You are stable and your insurance will not cover further care at the hospital you were originally
admitted to.

You require specialized care not rendered by the hospital where you are currently.

Transfers usually require an ambulance with trained personnel to transport the patient. Insurance
may not cover the cost for transfer if it is not deemed medically necessary.

In some cases, your doctor may ask you to go to the emergency department for any number of
reasons. This request does not mean you will be admitted. Most doctors that send patients to the
emergency department, send them for evaluation and treatment if they decide they cannot do the
evaluation or treatment in their office. If they want you admitted, many will simply complete a direct
admission. Factors that influence this decision for admission include the following:

Need for immediate workup

Diagnosis

Treatment plan

Need for further evaluation

Hospital bed availability