Difference Between IPD and OPD: Understanding Inpatient and Outpatient Care
Hetvi Vashi
Author
With the rising awareness of health consciousness, there has been a significant growth in buying insurance policies among the masses and understanding different nuances of healthcare. The healthcare facilities offer diverse services and treatments to the patients. The two preliminary types of treatment provided to the patients include OPD and IPD. Let’s explore further details about OPD and IPD and how it impacts the insurance premium and policy benefits.
Introduction to OPD and IPD
OPD and IPD are the two most common treatment options at hospitals and other medical centers. The hospitals and medical centres focus on two common treatment options - OPD and IPD OPD full form is Out-Patient Department and IPD represents In-Patient Department. Although both are medical departments within the hospital, the difference between OPD and IPD lies majorly in the nature of treatment. When purchasing a health insurance policy, it is important to understand the difference between IPD and OPD and accordingly have a cost-benefit analysis of the policy benefits with the premium and understand whether the policy covers OPD or not, and have an awareness of the coverage limit for OPD and IPD.
What is OPD?
OPD full form is Out-Patient Department, which refers to the doctor consultations or diagnostic tests that could support preventive care or have only a minor surgical procedure which ensures the patient does not require hospital admission. The OPD treatment could be availed at a medical facility in a doctor’s clinic or a hospital based on the preferences of the hospital. A health insurance policy with OPD coverage will offer reimbursement for medical expenses which will conclude doctor consultation fees, diagnostic tests, minor surgeries, and any required medication for recovery of ailments.
What is IPD in a hospital?
IPD full form is In-Patient Department, which refers to a specific medical facility that requires in-hospital admission of patients for more than a day for treatment and recovery process. In contrast to OPD, IPD requires a higher degree of supervision from physicians and nurses based on the intensity of the medical condition or surgical procedure. In IPD treatment, the medical facility offers round-the-clock monitoring for the patients and provides services for bedding, meals, and diagnostic facilities along with treatment and medication.
Differences Between IPD and OPD
OPD full form is Out-Patient Department and IPD stands for In-Patient Department. The major difference between IPD and OPD includes the nature of the treatment, where IPD includes hospitalization of patients for treatment and recovery whereas OPD does not require hospitalization of patients. Let’s further explore the difference between IPD and OPD with different aspects as follows:
| Point of Difference | OPD | IPD |
|---|---|---|
| Duration of stay | The patient's treatment is completed in a day and does not require hospitalization. However, the patient may require one or more follow-up visits depending on the recovery of the ailment or from the medical procedure. | The patient’s treatment requires hospitalization and the duration of stay will vary based on the medical condition and treatment plan. Usually, it requires an in-hospital stay for a day or more. |
| Services covered | With OPD, the focus is on preventive care and includes services like routine check-ups, early diagnostic tests, doctor consultations, and minor surgical procedures. | With IPD, the services covered are pre and post-hospitalization, major surgical procedures, complex medical ailments, and organ transplants where the treatment or recovery is a longer recovery process. |
| Cost | The cost of OPD treatment is lower as compared to IPD, as the treatment covers only minor illnesses, simple surgical procedures, consultation, and prescription for medication therapy. | The cost for IPD treatments is higher as compared to OPD as it includes conducting major surgeries, or severe health ailments and requires serious medical intervention and a longer treatment process. Further, it also includes room rent charges. |
| Follow-up care | The OPD treatment requires one or more follow-up consultations or refill of medicines based on the nature of the ailment. The doctor usually recommends a visit based on the progress. | In IPD treatment, nurses and doctors continue follow-up care post the surgery or treatment process and ensure the patient is monitored during hospitalization. Sometimes, the doctors may have a follow-up visit after discharge as well. |
| Examples | Vaccination, blood tests, root canal, X-rays, etc. | Lung transplant, childbirth, joint replacement surgery, etc. |
Importance of Understanding IPD and OPD in Healthcare
Both OPD and IPD play a crucial role in patient management, so, it is important to understand the differences between inpatient and outpatient. Both departments cater to the needs of patients with healthcare services depending on the intensity of the care required for a specific ailment or type of surgery. Typically, IPD requires hospital admission for more than a day and the nature of the treatment is based on the severity of the ailment or the surgical procedure. Whereas, OPD treatment involves preventive care with diagnostic tests, doctor consultations, and minor surgical procedures. It is essential to understand the difference between IPD and OPD to make several key decisions regarding the health insurance coverage plan as the insured should have adequate policy cover to protect himself/herself from the high medical costs involving room rent, surgical procedures, and intensive treatment options. With recurrent health check-ups and diagnostic tests, the insured should also understand if his/her policy has OPD coverage or not. Frequently, an individual buying the policy may not be aware of the policy coverage options and if all the parameters align with his/her requirements. When the difference between IPD and OPD is clear, he/she can make a conscious decision based on his requirement for frequent check-ups or doctor consultations along with planning for any unfortunate medical emergencies in the long run. Generally, an insurance policy with OPD cover has a higher premium and there can be a cap amount for OPD treatments or any guidelines that are specific to taking OPD treatment from selective doctors based in network hospitals. So, it is required to have a clear understanding of OPD and IPD and have an insurance policy tailored to your medical needs. At Covrzy (GHI page), we provide different cover options based on your requirements.
Conclusion
OPD or Out-Patient Department involves offering medical treatment to patients for minor ailments, diagnostic purposes, small surgeries that do not require in-hospital admission. On the other hand, IPD or In-Patient Department refers to providing serious medical treatment for severe ailments and major surgical procedures which require hospitalization and has a longer recovery process which requires recurrent monitoring by physicians and nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore moreWhat is IPD in a hospital?
In-Patient Department or IPD in hospital refers to the treatment options provided for patient care that require hospital admissions. This includes any serious disease, planned or unplanned major surgical procedures that require comprehensive treatment and monitoring with direct access to any medical facilities and equipment.
What is the difference between IPD and OPD?
The major difference between IPD and OPD is the nature of the treatment for patient care. OPD focuses on preventive care with diagnostic tests, doctor consultations, or minor surgical procedures where the treatment does not require hospitalization. IPD or In-Patient Department in hospital refers to patient-care with severe diseases or major surgical procedures that require hospitalization for more than a day and need longer treatment and recovery.
What is OPD in hospitals?
OPD or Out-Patient Department refers to hospital services that focus on patient care that does not require hospital admission. This includes doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, minor surgical procedures, and regular health check-ups. Typically, OPD includes non-emergency situations and lets patients return home after treatment.
How do IPD and OPD affect treatment costs?
There is a difference between the treatment costs for IPD and OPD as the intensity of the ailment or the surgical procedures. IPD treatment is expensive as it comprises hospitalization which involves room rent, nursing care and monitoring, surgical procedures, and other costs for treatment and recovery. On the contrary, OPD treatment is less expensive as it involves shorter visits for physician consultations and does not require hospital admission.
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