Ambulatory Care Questions and Correct Answers/ Latest Update / Already Graded

What characterizes Inpatient Care stays? Ans: They are at least one overnight stay "ambul" means Ans: walking Three interrelated trends regarding inpatient care and ambulatory care: Ans: Because inpatient care is so expensive, payers won't pay for an overnight stay if it isn't medically necessary Hospital based outpatient care is more expensive than non hospital based outpatient care Busy people demand convenient care Hospitals must maintain all the expensive services and technology in order to: Ans: Be properly accredited and licensed, as well as attract various insurers, patients, and good physicians Page | 2 All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 | What does this high overhead do resulting in competition? Ans: It puts them at a competitive cost disadvantage relative to free-standing, single focus ambulatory facilities, including even surgical centers or imaging centers 7 Types of Ambulatory Care Settings: Ans: 1) Hospital emergency departments (EDs) 2) Hospital-based outpatient departments (OPDs) 3) Outpatient offices; physician private practices 4) Urgent Care Centers 5) Retail clinics 6) Concierge medicine 7) Complimentary and Alternative Medicine What is EMTALA (1986), and what does it require? Ans: Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. It requires hospitals and ambulances to provide care to anyone needing it regardless of ability to pay, citizenship, and legal status. A functional safety net. What was one issue with the act in terms of financing? Page | 3 All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 | Ans: It provided no money to accomplish this; classic "unfunded mandate" What did the act try to counteract? Ans: "dumping" of uninsured or unprofitable patients