Inpatient & Outpatient Surgeries
Excellence in Care for Patients in South Dakota
We are committed to improving the services our patients have access to
by implementing new and innovative solutions for better quality and optimal
outcomes. Many procedures that formerly required an inpatient hospital
stay can now be conducted on an outpatient basis. This means a quicker
recovery and faster return to your normal life. Advanced techniques and
state-of-the-art procedures and technologies make this possible.
At Coteau Health Care System in Sisseton, South Dakota, we are committed
to utilizing the best techniques and technologies in order to offer the
best care possible for our patients. This includes utilizing advanced
procedures that allow our patients increased freedom and faster recoveries.
Your doctor will determine if inpatient or outpatient treatment is the
best option for you.
Observation vs. Inpatient Procedures
“Observation” or “inpatient”—what’s
the difference? When you are cared for in a hospital setting, your physician
must report your status as either “observation” or “inpatient”
for Medicare billing purposes. Many conditions that in the past were treated
as an “inpatient” hospital stay are now treated as an “observation”
stay. In some cases, an inpatient stay may follow an observation admission.
Inpatient versus observation status is not determined by how long a patient
stays at the hospital, but rather by:
- The severity of the illness
- The complexity of treatment
The quality of care and level of nursing and physician involvement are
the same under either inpatient or observation status.
There are, however, some important differences with an observation stay;
for example:
- An observation stay will be billed under outpatient services or Medicare Part B
- Patients are responsible for the cost of self-administered medications
such as oral pills and insulin
- Time spent in observation does not count toward the three-day qualifying
stay required by Medicare before Medicare will pay for services at a skilled
nursing facility or sub-acute care unit
Contact Our Coteau Health Care System to Learn More
Are you curious about what your inpatient / outpatient stay will entail?
Do you have questions about the differences between an observation stay
and an inpatient stay? Our dedicated, caring, and knowledgeable team at
Coteau Health Care System is here to answer your questions. Your physician
will determine whether inpatient or observation status best meets your
individual needs. If you have questions regarding your coverage, please
get in touch with your Medicare service provider, or speak with our billing
department. We are committed to increasing the access our community has
to innovative and effective health services.
We look forward to serving you at our hospital: Contact CDP today for more
information about the services we provide!