Question

Define 2 changes in the U.S. Health Care Services delivery system that have led to a decline in hospital inpatient days and growth in ambulatory (outpatient) services. Are Ambulatory services important for hospitals? Why, or why not?

Answer 1

Medicare reimbursement and cost-saving efforts of managed care are the two main factors that have led to a decline in hospital inpatient days and a growth in ambulatory services. Hospitals, have a strong incentive to minimize the inpatient length of stay and continue treatment in an outpatient setting because of Medicare reimbursements. Cost-containment strategies adopted by managed care also stress lower inpatient utilization, with a corresponding emphasis on outpatient services. core business.

Accessibility is an essential feature of primary care. One of the goals of primary care is to bring health care as close as possible to where people live and work. Hence, all primary care services are ambulatory in nature. The term “ambulatory care” is used interchangeably with “outpatient services.” Primary care is delivered on an outpatient basis and is therefore ambulatory.

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