A patient who receives lodging and food, as well as treatment, in a hospital or an infirmary; -- distinguished from outpatient.

Services received while residing in the hospital or residential care facility.

Someone who stays overnight at the hospital while receiving health care.

Medical procedures that require a hospital stay. An example would be any major operation such as heart bypass surgery. To reduce costs many procedures that were once performed on an inpatient basis are now performed on an outpatient basis.