hospitalization

What is a hospitalization?

A hospitalization occurs when a patient is admitted to a hospital for inpatient care.¹

When a patient spends the night in the hospital, it typically means the patient is receiving inpatient medical care and is considered hospitalized. But some patients who stay overnight in the hospital are on observation status, which is a form of outpatient care. And researchers do differentiate between observation stays (outpatient) and short-stay hospitalizations (inpatient).²

In 2023, there were more than 34 million hospitalizations in the United States, across the country’s nearly 6,100 hospitals.³

What are common reasons for hospitalization?

Childbirth is the most common reason for hospitalizations in the U.S.⁴ After childbirth, the most recent CDC source cites the most common reasons for hospitalizations as septicemia, heart failure, osteoarthritis, pneumonia, and diabetes.⁵

What is partial hospitalization?

Partial hospitalization refers to a form of intensive outpatient psychiatric care⁶ for mental/behavioral health or substance use disorders.⁷

Partial hospitalization programs are outpatient care provided by a hospital or community mental health center to patients who might otherwise need inpatient care.⁸ Patients may receive treatment for several hours per day, similar to the treatment that would be provided to inpatients.⁹ But in a partial hospitalization program, the patient commutes to and from the facility each day, rather than being admitted as an inpatient.¹⁰

Partial hospitalization may be used as an alternative to inpatient care including psychiatric or substance use treatment, or to help patients transition after an inpatient stay.¹¹

Can you receive care in the hospital and not be hospitalized?

Yes, many patients who receive care in hospitals are not hospitalized. This includes patients who spend the night in the hospital under observation status, as well as patients who receive care in the hospital for part of a day without being admitted for inpatient care. This care can be provided in the emergency department or a hospital outpatient department.