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What Are the Pros and Cons of Outpatient Care?

Alex Tree
Alex Tree

Some pros of outpatient are the lower costs and less interruption of daily life, as patients can continue work or school sooner. Outpatient treatment is generally less expensive than inpatient care because the patient does not need a bed or much of a nurse’s time and the hospital’s resources. Some cons of outpatient care are its ineffectiveness for certain treatments and the need for a driver and caregiver. Addicts, for example, might not be able to recover on their own without constant supervision.

One pro of outpatient care is that the person can usually continue with school or work. He or she is not confined to a hospital bed and hospital equipment. Instead, the doctor performing the outpatient procedures might even encourage the patient to resume life as normal.

A patient may continue with work or school when undergoing outpatient care.
A patient may continue with work or school when undergoing outpatient care.

Outpatient care is typically cheaper than inpatient care because the patient does not spend extra time at the treatment facility. Furthermore, procedures suited to ambulatory care are simpler than those that can be performed only in an inpatient manner. For example, fixing a deviated septum is significantly easier and less risky than surgery on a major organ. The former is usually performed on an outpatient basis unless the patient has complications or certain risk factors, whereas the patient in the latter situation must be monitored closely for problems that can be fatal within hours.

Outpatient care is typically cheaper than inpatient care.
Outpatient care is typically cheaper than inpatient care.

There is a difference between choosing outpatient treatment for a surgery like septoplasty and treating drug or alcohol addiction. A minor surgery generally leaves most people capable of recovering on their own and only required to stop by for a checkup to make sure they are healing properly. Treating addiction on an outpatient treatment basis can be difficult, because the person is left to recover on his or her own and sometimes falls back on old ways. People who are being treated for addiction on an outpatient basis are often unable to do it on their own and might even require a dangerous detox.

Some people who rely on outpatient care may need to rent or purchase a special hospital bed during recovery.
Some people who rely on outpatient care may need to rent or purchase a special hospital bed during recovery.

Even if a person chooses outpatient care, he or she will likely need someone to drive him or her home. In addition, that person or a hired nurse or caregiver might need to stay overnight to help the outpatient care patient perform daily tasks he or she can no longer do. For example, sometimes outpatient care patients are placed on prescription painkillers that can lead to poor decision making or the inability to walk properly. If the outpatient care patient was placed under anesthesia in a hospital, he or she might feel groggy and unable to resume simple tasks like walking immediately after waking up.

Discussion Comments

burcinc

I didn't have an option between inpatient and outpatient care. Since I was getting over an addition, my doctor required that I have inpatient care. If I had the choice, I would have chose outpatient care for the lower cost.

donasmrs

There are pros and cons of both inpatient and outpatient care, so I think that at the end of the day, it's a personal decision.

I had to have three surgeries on my knee this year. I did have inpatient care for the first two surgeries and missed quite a few days of work. So after the third surgery, I requested outpatient care so that I could at least work from home while I recovered. I should have done this for my previous surgeries as well. I think it was much better than staying at the hospital.

stoneMason

If my insurance covers it, then I would prefer to have inpatient care. Of course, if the procedure is so minor that it barely requires any after-care, then I would rather be home. But if dressings have to be changed, if I need strong pain killers or anything like that, I'd rather be inpatient. It's just better to be supervised and to have a medical professional nearby at all times in case something goes wrong. I think it's easier to stay in at the hospital for a few days rather than have someone drive me from home to the hospital for care every day.

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    • A patient may continue with work or school when undergoing outpatient care.
      By: Gorilla
      A patient may continue with work or school when undergoing outpatient care.
    • Outpatient care is typically cheaper than inpatient care.
      By: nyul
      Outpatient care is typically cheaper than inpatient care.
    • Some people who rely on outpatient care may need to rent or purchase a special hospital bed during recovery.
      By: Agence DER
      Some people who rely on outpatient care may need to rent or purchase a special hospital bed during recovery.