Question

The key factor in determining inpatient status is:

a. An admitting order by the attending physician
b. The number of days the patients stays in the hospital
c. The acuity or of the patient's illness
d. The specific disease or illness that the patient presents with

Answer 1

The primary factor for inpatient status is an admitting order by a doctor (option a). For the examples provided, if each of the 80 women stayed more than five days, collectively they would exceed a year's stay. Acute diseases have a quick onset and recovery time compared to chronic conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The key factor in determining inpatient status is typically an admitting order by the attending physician.

However, to address the scenarios outlined:

1. If an individual stayed more than five days, it is likely due to the requirement of hospital care beyond a minor or acutely resolving condition.
   
   
2. For the 80 women with an average stay of more than five days, collectively they would have spent more than a year (365 days) in the hospital. If each woman stayed just over five days, for example, 5.1 days, the total would be 5.1 days times 80 women, which equals 408 total days, surpassing a year.
   
   

The responsibility of the patient according to the sociological perspective is to seek help and to try to recover. Should a patient stay ill without just cause, they risk being stigmatized for malingering.

Acute and chronic diseases have different durations and intensity of illness. Acute diseases like influenza have a quick onset and resolution time, while chronic conditions are prolonged. Critical to patient care is the analysis of signs and symptoms to determine the cause of an ailment and prescribe appropriate treatment.