A trip to the emergency room can sometimes lead to a prolonged hospital stay. Treatment of serious illnesses can involve comprehensive diagnostic tests, blood transfusions, and surgery. After these treatments, some patients endure long periods of rehabilitation services. When a service needs you to remain in the hospital for more than a day, it is categorized as an inpatient service.

Inpatient care is for patients whose condition requires admission. Mostly, patients get into in patient care from previous ambulatory care, such as a referral from a family physician or through emergency medicine departments. The patient becomes an inpatient after getting an admission note.