ambulatory care

What is ambulatory care?

The word “ambulatory” refers to someone being able to walk and not confined to a bed. Ambulatory care encompasses care provided for patients who do not need to be admitted to the hospital for inpatient care.¹

Ambulatory care is one of the ten essential health benefits that must be covered under the Affordable Care Act on all individual and small-group plans with effective dates of 2014 or later.²

What is included in ambulatory care?

Ambulatory care encompasses any care that can be provided without an overnight stay in the hospital. This includes office visits for primary or specialty care, minor surgeries, physical and occupational therapy, screening procedures such as mammograms and colonoscopies, kidney dialysis, infusion treatments such as chemotherapy, and many more.

Where can I receive ambulatory care?

Ambulatory care can be provided in a variety of settings, including medical offices, hospital outpatient departments, therapy and rehabilitation facilities, outpatient surgery centers, urgent care clinics, and freestanding emergency departments.

Who can provide ambulatory care?

Ambulatory care can be provided by any outpatient medical provider. This includes physicians, physician assistants, therapists, and nurses, among others. Ambulatory care nursing is a specialized field of nursing that focuses on outpatient care, provided both in person and via telehealth.³