Certified Inpatient Coding (CIC) Practice Exam

A key factor in determining inpatient status is an admitting order by the attending physician. This order is essential because it signifies that the physician has formally assessed the patient's condition and has deemed it necessary for the patient to be admitted for treatment that cannot be provided on an outpatient basis. This admission order establishes the medical necessity for inpatient care, which is critical for classification and billing purposes.

While factors such as the length of stay, the acuity of the illness, and specific diseases can influence the overall management and treatment of a patient, they do not solely determine whether a patient is classified as an inpatient. The admitting order serves as the official recognition of the patient's need for hospitalization, making it the most definitive factor in establishing inpatient status.