Period of time from the day of admission to the day of discharge from the hospital of a bed patient usually without interruption. This period includes the day of admission but not the day of discharge in the length-of-stay calculation.

Mandated system by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) in 1983. It provides a predetermined rate of payment for each discharge for all acute hospital inpatient services and is known as the diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) . See diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) .

Medical facility that provides care for an individual admitted for an overnight or longer stay for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness on a 24-hour basis by or under the supervision of a physician.

Insurance payment or payment by the patient to the hospital facility for the costs sustained to treat an individual admitted as a bed patient.

Hospitalized benefits and items that are provided to an inpatient such as room and board, nursing care, diagnostic and therapeutic services, and medical and surgical services. Also called inpatient hospital services .

That which goes into a computer memory bank.