Why Outpatient Care is on the Rise
More and more, medical procedures are being conducted in outpatient facilities vs. an inpatient setting. Mammogram screenings and cataract procedures may not come as a surprise, but many patients would rather have their total joint replacement surgery done in ambulatory centers than in a hospital. This is because of the convenience factor, a lesser burden on the wallet, and overall easier experience.
The gap between inpatient and outpatient net revenue continues to close in. In the 2019 Hospital Statistics report, the American Hospital Association shared that hospitals’ 2017 outpatient revenue was $472 billion. By comparison, the inpatient revenue was nearly $498 billion.