Outpatient means which of the following?

• A. Admitted to the hospital overnight
• B. Seen and sent home the same day
• C. Outpatient
• D. Hospital clinic visit

Answer: (C)

Outpatient care means you receive evaluation or treatment without being admitted to the hospital overnight. The essential idea is not staying as an inpatient; you come in for a visit or a procedure and go home the same day in most cases. The option that uses the actual term for this care status directly identifies the concept being asked about, making it the best choice. While a scenario like “seen and sent home the same day” describes a typical outpatient outcome, and a hospital clinic visit is a type of outpatient encounter, the term itself most precisely labels the category of care that doesn’t involve overnight admission.