Outpatient services refer to any healthcare consultation, procedure, treatment, or other service that is administered without an overnight stay at a hospital or medical facility. Outpatient care is administered in various outpatient facilities such as primary care clinics, community health centers, urgent care clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers. Outpatient services are distinct from inpatient services, which refer to patients who are admitted to the hospital to stay overnight, whether briefly or for an extended period of time.

Outpatient services can include a wide variety of treatments, diagnostic tests, and minor surgical procedures. Examples of outpatient care include routine primary care visits, diagnostic imaging (e.g., x-rays, MRIs), bloodwork and urine tests, physical therapy, colonoscopies, mammograms, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and certain surgical procedures such as dental surgery, gastric bypass, breast augmentation, hip and knee replacements, and other procedures.

Outpatient services are an excellent option for patients who do not need round-the-clock care and can continue to manage their day-to-day responsibilities. Outpatient services are also more cost-effective than inpatient services, and they allow patients to recover from treatments and procedures in the comfort of their own homes.