If a Patient Is Admitted to an Observation Unit in a Hospital

question 31

True/False

If a patient is admitted to an observation unit in a hospital for a medical condition and either does not improve or the condition worsens and is then admitted to the hospital as an inpatient, the coder will use the principal diagnosis as the condition that led to the actual hospital admission.

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Definitions:

Bankruptcy Procedure

The legal process under bankruptcy laws for dealing with the debt of individuals or entities that cannot pay their creditors.

Creditors

Individuals or entities that lend money or extend credit to others.

Chapter 13

A type of bankruptcy in the United States that allows individuals with a regular income to develop a plan to repay all or part of their debts.

Payment Plan

An agreement to pay off a debt over a set period of time in scheduled installments.